Other States - Orissa   

Rally creates tension in Kandhamal district

BERHAMPUR: Tension prevailed in Tumudibandha area in volatile Kandhamal district of the State on Tuesday as a rally was taken out in the area defying the restrictions imposed by the district administration under Section 144 of the IPC.

To prevent escalation of communal tension in the Tumudibandh area the administration has imposed restrictions under Section 144 for indefinite period. But defying the restrictions and orders of the administration and police, the members of the Christian community took out a rally at Maliguda village one and half kilometers from Tumudibandh on Tuesday.

Around 1,500 persons including women took part in this rally. They demanded action against VHP leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, who according to them was instigating communal violence in the area.

The group held a public meeting at Malipada and submitted a memorandum to the Baliguda sub-collector, R.V.Krishnan. They were prevented to enter limits of Tumudibandh town to avoid communal tension. Apprehending law and order situation one section of the CRPF, four platoons of the OSAP and a large section of APR force had been deployed in the area since last four days. A total of 38 platoons of armed police were deployed at venerable places throughout the district to maintain law and order situation on Tuesday.

Since Monday night the Kandhamal district Collector, Kishan Kumar and the Superintendent of Police (SP), Nikhil Kanodia were camping at Tumudibandh to monitor the situation.

The officials failed to persuade the leaders to cancel their rally. Efforts were also made by the administration to prevent people from other parts of the district reach Tumudibandh for the rally. All vehicular traffic to Tumudibandh was stopped. Three buses which were carrying people to Tumudibandh for the rally were detained at Baliguda.

Tumudibandh area is tense since July 8 following a clash over cow slaughter. A disciple of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda was attacked and injured on that day. It may be noted that on Monday the district administration had been able to persuade Swami Laxmananda to defer his indefinite hunger strike which he had planned to start in front of the office of the Kandhamal Collector at Phulbani from Tuesday.

The VHP leader had planned up this hunger strike demanding action against the persons involved in cow slaughter in Tumudibandh area.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

7 killed in house collapse incidents
Film Society to screen Czech, Japanese films
Woes of the HIV-hit in Ganjam district
Daily grind
Crocodiles turn ‘honorary forest guards’
State to exempt VAT on materials for RGGVY works
Celebration time
Action against liquor mafia demanded
Girl suffers from unusual growth of her belly
Train cancelled
Ispat Express derailed
Controversy over Soren’s demand deepens
Rally creates tension in Kandhamal district
Meet on anti-bauxite mining in Maliparvat region
Lightning kills one
Re-introduction of AI flights to TN demanded

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu