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Fresh incidents of violence

BHUBANESWAR: Even as the State Government on Monday claimed that the situation in Kandhamal was under control, fresh incidents of communal violence were reported from the district during the day.

Those protesting the killing of VHP leader Swami Lakshmanananda blocked the roads between Tikabali and Chakapada, and Tikabali and Baburia and burnt down at least 20 houses belonging to Christian families in two villages.

A church was also vandalised at Mandasili under Raikia block, according to sources. Incidents of burning and damaging of houses were also reported from several other places in the district.

Police also recovered three bodies in Kandhamal on Monday. While two bodies were recovered from Raikia area, one was found in Tikabali.

Meanwhile, the State Government prevented political leaders and human rights activists from entering Kandhamal to assess the situation.

Twelve leaders of Opposition Congress were arrested at Madhapur Chhak on the Nayagarh-Kandhamal border when they tried to enter the strife-torn district defying the official advice that they not enter the affected region.

Those who were arrested include Pradesh Congress Committee president Jayadev Jena and former Union Minister Srikanta Jena. The leaders were later released upon furnishing personal bond.

In Bhubaneswar, a team of Left leaders were stopped from going to visit the violence affected villages of Kandhamal and told to defer their visit by a couple of days.

As violence continued to be reported from interior areas of Kandhamal during the day, curfew remained in force in nine towns of the district.

The authorities set up two more relief camps on Monday as more and more Christian families who were hiding in different forested hills came out to seek help from the authorities.

The number of relief camps thus rose to nine and the number of people taking shelter increased to 13,000 on Monday.

Meanwhile, the State Government came with a report containing initial details of the damage caused by the communal violence in Kandhamal.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who reviewed the situation at a high level meeting, told presspersons that a team of senior officials, including Director General of Police and Home Secretary, will visit Kandhamal on Tuesday.

Staff Reporter writes: Alleging that constitutional authorities were not discharging duties, human rights activists, who came from different parts of the country, demanded that the communal violence in Kandhamal district should be probed by CBI or by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Swami Agnivesh, president of the World Council of Arya Samaj and prominent human rights activist, said police administration had sided with rioters targeting minority in Kandhamal district.

“We condemn all killings. Whatever we have seen, it is similar to Gujarat riot that occurred in 2002. Bureaucracy and police have become party to the communal strike. It is a matter of great concern,” he said. Swami Agnivesh said since complicity of administration was clear rest of the country would not be satisfied with the existing probe announced by the State Government. He said if SIMI could be banned why could not Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal be put in the same category as there was enough evidence that theses organizations were fast emerging “terrorist outfits”.

Former judge of the Bombay High Court Justice H. Suresh said, “there is complete constitutional breakdown in Kandhamal. People are still in fear. There is large-scale human rights violation taking place.” Shabhnam Hashmi, member of National Integration Council in Home Ministry, criticised the Government for allowing Pravin Bhai Togadia to Kandhamal district, for taking part in funeral procession.

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