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Hostellers go ‘missing’ in riot-hit areas

BERHAMPUR: Inmates of hostels attached to churches and Christian agencies who went missing since the outbreak of violence in Kandhamal district on December 24 and 25 are yet to be traced. The issue is causing major worry to officials.

There are two hostels at Baliguda and one at Barkhama. It is yet to be ascertained whether the inmates left for their places in nearby villages or are hiding in forests. Sadly, authorities of churches and other agencies are not available to provide clear data about the number of children residing in the hostels and their whereabouts.

Some 150 girls used to reside at the hostel of Mt. Carmel Convent in Baliguda. Most of the inmates are college students at Baliguda church hostel. A local church has a hostel for school students at Barkhama village near Baliguda. Bodies of two victims of communal violence were recovered from this village. Some 400 houses were also torched here by the miscreants.

Locals say that the students were asked to come out before the mob ransacked these establishments. Ravi Pal, former chairman of Baliguda block, said no one was sure where the children went. Lack of communication and non-availability persons managing these institutions are adding to the woes.

An old cook guards the hostel at Barkhama. She is unable to provide any data regarding the boarders of the hostel and their whereabouts. As per an assessment of the locals, the whereabouts of some 500 students are to be ascertained.

The Christian community is yet to come out of the shock. A peace committee meeting was held at Baliguda on Sunday under the chairmanship of Sub-Collector A.V. Krishnan. But no representative of the Christian community or the local churches attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the fact-finding team of the CPI(M) led by its State polit bureau member Ali Kishore Patnaik alleged that the miscreants of the Sangh Parivar instigated violence in the presence of the police at Brahmanigaon on December 24.

The team entered Kandhamal district but it was turned away by authorities. At a press conference later, Mr. Patnaik alleged that thousands of people of Kandhamal district started fleeing their villages after the recent violence to take shelter in Ganjam and Gajapati districts.

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