On November 14, 2012, media reported that five Maoists had been killed and one captured during an encounter between the security forces and the Sabyasachi Panda faction in the Bhaliaguda forest area of Gobindapur panchayat of Gajapati district (bordering Ganjam), which falls in the jurisdiction of Mohana Police Station.
Subsequent media reports carried the press statement of Sabyasachi Panda stating that those killed were innocent villagers, and that none of his party cadre or he had been hurt. On November 18, the families of the deceased also denied that they were linked with the Maoists. From media and other reports, it clearly appears that the state is hushing up these fake encounters.
The Coordination of Democratic Rights Organisations (CDRO) called for a fact-finding and a six-member team consisting of individuals representing civil liberties and democratic rights organisations from Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh visited the area on Dec 8 and 9, 2012.
This report contains their observations and findings.
Click here for a copy of the report.
WSS 