Bhubaneswar, Sept. 12: The state government today asked revenue divisional commissioner S.K. Vashisth to probe into the circumstances leading police to open fire, which resulted in the death of one person, at Chandpur.

Director-general of police Sanjib Marik ordered a crime branch inquiry into the multiple murder case in Nayagarh district.

Apart from suspending in charge of Ranpur police station Chandrashekhar Mohanty, the government also shifted district superintendent of police Niti Shekhar, who had joined the office only this week, to the police headquarters.

On September 6, four members of a family, including two children, were found murdered at Chandpur.

The delay in the investigation had led to resentment among the people. Yesterday, local residents, who had staged a demonstration outside the police station, clashed with the police.

The police had baton charged, lobbed tear gas and later opened fire to bring the situation under control. One person was killed and 18 others suffered injury in the incident.

As the situation remains tensed in the area, the authorities have promulgated prohibition orders and heavy police deployment has been made at the spot.

Over 17 platoons of police have been deployed at various places in the area, including the highways, where local villagers were staging protests in groups yesterday.

Marik today admitted that local police could not properly handle the issue.

“The case has been handed over to the crime branch. Besides, Ranpur inspector in-charge has been suspended for delay in the investigation,” Marik said.

The revenue divisional commissioner and inspector general of police (central range) R.P. Koche, along with many other senior police officials, today visited the spot.

Koche handed over a cheque of Rs 2 lakh, provided by the state government, to the father of Pradeep Behera, who was killed in police firing yesterday.

Vashist also conducted a preliminary inquiry into the matter. All the officials met the family members of the deceased.