Berhampur, Aug. 13:  The Congress today urged the state government to stop killing the tribals and the Dalits by the police in the name of “anti-Maoist operations”.

“The July 8 killings of innocent tribals at Gumudumaha village in Kandhamal was a pre-planned murder,” alleged Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan, holding chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who also holds the home department portfolio, responsible for the incident.

Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das threatened to intensify their agitation if the state government did not give up its “anti-tribal and anti-Dalit” policy.

The president of the Scheduled Castes Cell of the All-India Congress Committee, K. Raju, lambasted the state government for its “anti-tribal and anti-Dalit” policy.

Several national-level Congress leaders, including AICC general secretary in-charge of Odisha, B.K. Hariprasad, the party’s Dalit leader and former minister of Rajasthan Mahendra Singh Malavya and former chief minister Hemananda Biswal today gathered at an event to mark the conclusion of the party’s five-day-long Kandhamal Adhikar Yatra rally at Baliguda in Kandhamal district.

Gadishi Digal, of Gumudumaha village — the wife of Kukala Digal who was killed in the firing on July 8 — and Chakara Digal — the grandfather of two-year-old Gehes Digal who was also killed on the day — were present at the rally. 

“The state government gave us compensation. But, it can not return our near and dear ones who felled to bullets,” said Gadishi and Chakara. 

The Kandhamal Adhikar Yatra covered 11 revenue blocks and organised roadside meetings at many places.

“We are protesting against insufficient compensation to the family members of the victims. The Congress is also demanding inquiry into the incident by a sitting judge of the high court,” said PCC scheduled tribes cell president Pradip Majhi.  

Ten platoons of police force were deployed at Baliguda today to maintain law and order during the event.