THE KEY WITTNESSES DENY ANY LINK WITH SUBHASHREE PANDA

THE KEY WITTNESSES DENY ANY LINK WITH SUBHASHREE PANDA 1/02/2012

ODISHA NEWS:
Cuttack Crime Branch DSP Rabindra Kumar Suar and OSAP 7th Battalion Assistant Commandant Manas Kumar Dash today deposed before the Gunupur Fast Track ADJ Court today as summoned by the court for examination in connection with a 2003 Gudari police station case against Subhashree Panda alias Seema.

During examination, the OSAP Commandant told the court that there was certainly an exchange of fire between the cops and Maoists present in the camp on the day, but I couldn't see anybody during the dark as it was only 4.00 to 4.30 am when the cops raided the ultras camp in Gudari forest area in 2003.

Though the court was summoned four police personnel's to appear in the court today, the second day of hearing the witnesses, only two were deposed.

Earlier on Monday, the Gunupur Fast Track Additional District & Session Judge B.P.C Pattnaik started hearing the witnesses in connection with a 2003 Gudari Police station case in Rayagada district against Subhashree Panda, the wife of top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda.

Four of twelve witnesses to whom summons were issued deposed before the court on Monday. The ADJ started the hearing with recording the statement of independent witnesses, Krushna Chandra Kadukaka and Bali Tukuruka of Kuntinguda village under Gudari police, Constable Manoj Kumar Patra and OSAP 3rd Battalion Subedar Ajay Kumar Murmu today, told the defense lawyer Bramhananda Pattnaik to the media.

Both the independent witnesses were stated before the court during examination that they don't know who is Subhashree Panda, Pattnaik told. Describing the 2003 case a fabricated one, Subhashree's lawyer said the way in which two of three independent key witnesses on Monday denied the allegations, makes me believe that she would be acquitted in the case.

"We don't know who is Subhashree Panda, Milli Panda and Seema, her whereabouts and the case. Even, we have never seen her in our village". Said Krushna Chandra Kadukaka and Bali Tukuruka of Kuntinguda village while talking to the media persons outside the court.

It is important to mention here that six accused, Sandhya Sabar, Sabita Kumari Sabar, Nagesh Sabar, Dikisa Bekrebeda, Mathura Kimbaka and Lunchenka Beuska in the same 2003 Gudari police station case were acquitted in the year 2007 due to lack of evidence against them. The Gunupur police today produced Subhashree in court amid tight security as directed by the court yesterday, but the Additional Public Prosecutor M.K.Sahu prayed before the court today to grant more time to file the counter and accordingly the hearing was deferred to December 8, said Subhashree's lawyer D.Bramhananda Pattnaik to the media.

Of the total 18 witnesses summoned, only six including two independent key witnesses deposed for examination during the two day hearing, Pattanaik said. February 17th has been fixed for the next hearing of witnesses and fresh summons would be served to the absentees, he added.

SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,
ODISHA