Kandhamal Killings: BJP & Congress stage Kandhamal Bandh

Five villagers including a child were killed and seven injured as they were reportedly trapped in an exchange of fire between police and Maoists in Kandhamal. The bodies were handed over to their families after post-mortem.

In this regard, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Prasad Harichandan said that in the name of operation, innocent tribals and Dalits were killed at Gumudumaha by security forces.

Meanwhile, BJP State President Basant Panda said to mediaperson that, the the law and order machinery had collapsed in Odisha.

Protesting the killings, Congress and BJP have called for Kandhamal bandh on Monday. To maintain law and order, the local administration has deployed two platoons of police force at Phulbani.