Odisha CEO Announces Rs 30L Ex-Gratia For Slain Poll Official’s Family

Kandhamal: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha Surendra Kumar on Thursday announced a compensation of Rs 30 lakh for the family of Sanjukta Digal, the polling supervisor who was gunned down by Maoists near Barahala village under Gochhapada police limits in Kandhamal district the previous day.

“Sanjukta’s family will receive a compensation of Rs 30 lakh according to ECI guidelines,” the CEO told the media.

A Gram Rojgar Sevak, Sanjukta was hit in the head while she along with her four colleagues were waiting near their parked vehicle, suspecting landmines ahead.

Talking to the media at the district headquarters hospital, Assistant Sector Officer Prakash Das said a four-member polling party, including him and the deceased, was on the way to a polling booth in a vehicle to know about the arrival of other polling staff personnel when the Maoists triggered a landmine blast. “We got panicky after the incident and came out of the vehicle. As soon as we came out, the Maoists indiscriminately opened fire in which Sanjukta died on the spot. We managed to return to the district headquarters with her body,” Das added.