Judicial probe into cracker explosion sought

BHUBANESWAR: Milita Gana Sangathana (MGS), an organisation in Kujang area, has threatened to call a bandh in Paradip, Kujang and Ersama unless the district administration took steps to concede their demands which include a judicial probe into the cracker explosion at Kujang. Four people have died in the explosion which occurred on November 16. The MGS has been constituted taking representatives from all political parties and about 50 organisations in Kujang area. In a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, MGS president Ranjan Kumar Das has drawn his attention to the neglect of the area by the State Government over the years. Das alleged that the law and order situation in the region has deteriorated following the cracker explosion in which three MLAs of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) are allegedly involved. He said only a judicial probe can bring out the truth.The MGS demanded compensation of ` 10 lakh each to the next of the kin of the deceased in the explosion. Besides, the cost of treatment of the five injured should be fully borne by the administration. Families of the injured persons should be provided ex gratia compensation of ` 5 lakh each, he said. Das said that all port towns have been given the status of a district. But the demand to declare Paradip as a district has been ignored so far. He said Paradip should be declared as a district with Kujang as its headquarters. Besides, Paradip town should also be declared as a separate police district for better law and order.