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Activist told to remove objectionable matter

CUTTACK: Nicholas Barla, a social worker residing in a Church in Rourkela deposing before the Justice Basudev Panigrahi Commission of Enquiry here on Friday was forced to withdraw some of the objectionable statements he had made in his affidavit against the Orissa Government, State Police, RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal and Durga Vahini.

The Justice Panigrahi Commission is probing into the December 2007 Kandhamal riots in which at least six persons were killed; several churches and Christian missionaries were burnt on the eve of the Christmas celebrations.

Appearing before the Commission, Barla on Friday was grilled by the opposite party counsels during the cross-examinations over the observations he made in his affidavit. Barla had termed the Orissa Government and the State Police as communal in his affidavit, which was vehemently opposed by Counsel Ajit Patnaik, who was appearing for one Simanchal Patra before the Commission.

Prodded by the Commission, Barla withdrew his observations saying: “Since the statements I made are only on the basis of assumptions, I cannot concretely prove the same”. He had in his affidavit had said that there was common opinion that Orissa police and state administration is communal. “It (the police and State) was inactive and supported the rioters”, Barla had mentioned in his affidavit which were withdrawn.

On the Hindu frontal organizations like RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal and Durga Vahini, Barla too had made certain observations, which were not approved by the Commission and the opposite party counsels. He had termed these organisations as “Fundamentalists”.

He said he had mentioned so on the basis of certain literatures. But when asked by the Commission that whether he had annexed those literatures in the affidavit, Barla answered in negative.

Barla’s cross-examination however, could not be completed on Friday as the Commission adjourned the hearing to September 15 next.

The Commission would again record the depositions from September 15 to 19 in which at least seven more persons who had filed affidavits have been summoned. A total of 475 persons had filed affidavits and the Commission on Thursday allowed some more persons to file their affidavits.

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