Probe orders into alleged burning of 300 houses by Police

     Dantewada/Raipur, March 23, 2011: After media widely reported that Koya SPOs had allegedly burnt down the houses and all belonging of about 300 families, spread over three villages, the Dantewada District Administration today ordered a probe into the entire incident.

     Dantewada District Collector R Prasanna told ChhattisgarhTopNews.Com that the affected villagers would also be provided relief materials to sustain their lives.

      “There were media reports that some houses of Tadmetla, Timmapuram and Morpalli have been burnt by police, but so far I have not received any complaint from any of the villagers,” said the District Collector.

      While taking cognizance of the media reports a probe has been ordered as to confirm who has burnt the houses and what was the extent of damage, so that compensation could be paid, he said.

     Rice, dal and other essential materials would be sent to the affected villagers as relief to the people, he said.

     The District Collector also said he has constituted an Inquiry committee headed by Sub Divisional Magistrate Sukma Surendra Vaidya to probe the incident.

     Editor of Bastar Impact Suresh Mahapatra, Secretary of NGO Pragati Prayas Chitalanka Narendra and District Literacy Mission member secretary Ratnabala Mohanty have been named as the members of the Committee, a statement by the district administration said.

     The Committee would visit the affected villages and submit its report within one month, it said.

     Reports in national media said a joint police party of CRPF and Koya Commandos had gone on a three day operation of that Chintalnar area and during that period they had killed one innocent person, sexually abused some women and burnt the houses and all belongings for no reason.

     The report could not be independently verified looking into the thick police and Maoists presence in that area and lack of modern communication facilities.