Orissa CM Naveen Patnaik announces Compensation for Landmine Blast Victims

Orissa Chief Minister, who flew to Koraput to pay his last tribute to the nine security personnel, who were killed in a landmine blast at Palur village near Narayanpatna in Koraput district, announced a compensation of Rs. 8 lakh each to the families of the victims. Each family will also receive an insurance sum of Rs. 10 lakh each. One family member of Driver Sukant Sahu, who was killed in the blast, will get a job, announced the CM.

The SDPO (Sub-divisional Police Officer) of Laxmipur, has been placed under suspension for not following the standing instructions while carrying out anti-naxalite operations. Eight Special Strike Force officials and a Driver of Orissa Police, were killed in the blast.

In such operations, non-police vehicles should have been used. But the SDPO arranged a police jeep for the Special Strike Force (consisting of ex-servicemen), who were on their way to provide security to Orissa State Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF). The police vehicle was blown into pieces and jumped about 40 meters from the ground due to the impact of the blast.

According to police sources, the Maoists who were hiding near the blast site, burnt some of the jawans, who were badly injured and lying on the road. The Maoists brutally murdered them and even tried to prevent the CRPF from retrieving their bodies.

The CRPF secured the blast site and retrieved the bodies of all dead security personnel. They were given full state honours at the district police headquarters in Koraput and later sent to their respective families. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and DG Manmohan Praharaj had gone to Koraput to show their last respect to the departed souls.