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Congress seeks CBI probe

BHUBANESWAR: Main opposition Congress on Monday alleged that the recent communal violence in Kandhamal district was the result of a deep-rooted conspiracy between the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the district administration.

Further alleging that the administration and police did nothing do check the spread of violence when VHP activists went on damaging churches and burnt down houses of families belonging to the minority community, the party leaders demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation be handed over the investigation into the violence. The leaders who toured the affected areas as members of the party’s fact-finding team headed by former Chief Minister Hemananda Biswal said that only a CBI probe into the incidents could bring the real culprits to the book. As regards the judicial inquiry ordered by the State Government, Mr. Biswal said both probes could go on simultaneously.

Sharing their findings based on their meetings with various groups and individuals, Mr. Biswal and senior party leader and former Union Minister Srikanta Jena said the situation in the district was still tense.

Blaming the VHP and the district administration for the plight of the people affected by the violence, they demanded that the then District Collector and Superintendent of Police be placed under suspension without delay. “Mere transfer of the officials from the district was not sufficient.”

About the alleged attack on VHP activist Swami Lakshmananda, Mr. Jena said the VHP activist was never attacked on December 24. Only a scuffle had taken place between the bodyguard of the Swami and the people when the later were requesting the VHP activist not to go towards Brahmanigaon where tension had started involving the two communities.

As regards retaliation by the members of the Christian community, Mr. Jena said people belonging to the minority community had retaliated and burnt down houses of some Hindu families in Brahmanigaon only on December 27, on the fourth day of the violence. The Congress leaders, however, clarified that action should be taken against those indulged in the violence irrespective of their religion and caste.

About the relief measures, the leaders said that the relief for the affected people was inadequate and insufficient. The quality of the relief material being provided to the people was poor, they said.

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