Odisha Cong leaders meet Rahul, discuss Gumudumaha firing

27 August, New Delhi

Congress leaders from Odisha, including Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan and the Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Narasingha Mishra, met party vice-president Rahul Gandhi and discussed with him the Gumudumaha firing by security forces on July 8, which claimed the lives of five innocent people, including a 15-month-old.

Party sources said during their nearly one hour meeting with the Congress vice-president, held at his Tughlaq road residence, the Odisha Congress leaders made a presentation before Gandhi on the fact finding report submitted by Central team over the Gumudumaha firing.

They said the high command had summoned the state Congress leaders to hold discussion on the incident and other issues like the Mahanadi water dispute and non implementation of the Forest Rights Act.

Five villagers, including a two-year-old, were killed as they were reportedly trapped in an exchange of fire between police and Maoists on July 8.The security forces fired at the villagers indiscriminately after the autorickshaw in which they were travelling reached the outskirts of Gumudumaha village.

Sources said the recent Kalahandi incident where a tribal man carried his wife’s body on shoulder as he was not provided a vehicle by the district administration, also figured in the discussions. Also present during the discussions were senior party leader Jairam Ramesh and AICC incharge for Odisha B K Hariprsad.