Kandhamal killings a cold-blooded murder: Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram

NEW DELHI: Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram today termed as a "cold-blooded murder" the recent killing of five tribals during an anti-Maoist operation in Odisha's Kandhamal district and alleged the BJD government in the state was shielding the culprits.

He said a team of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes is in Odisha to probe the incident and soon the "truth will emerge".

"The killing of five tribals is a cold-blooded murder. The state government is trying to shield the culprits. A team of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes led by Chairman Rameshwar Oraon has gone to Odisha to probe the incident. They will submit a report to the Centre. Soon the truth will emerge.

"These killings establish that the state government is against tribals," Oram alleged.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had yesterday directed a Special Investigation Team of the State Human Rights Protection Cell to probe the incident.

Five villagers, including two women and a child, were killed during exchange of fire between Special Operation Group (SOG) jawans and Maoists at Malapanga forest in Kandhamal district on Friday night.