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Violence erupts in Kandhamal again

Special Correspondent

Mob sets ablaze Gochhapada police station, guns down constable

— Photo: PTI

Aghast: A woman stands amidst the ruins of her house burnt during riots in Kandhamal district on Tuesday.

BHUBANESWAR: The situation in riot-hit Kandhamal district of Orissa turned volatile after hundreds of armed men attacked a police station in the Phiringia Block and shot dead a constable in the early hours of Tuesday.

The over 500-strong mob set ablaze the Gochhapada station and burnt down police vehicles, even as the few policemen present there fled. Constable Bidhudendra Biswal was gunned down. Police said the attackers were carrying country-made firearms and other weapons. They had blocked the roads leading to Gochhapada before attacking the police station.

A police outpost, 12 km away from Gochhapada, was also attacked.

The Gochhapada station was attacked allegedly in protest against police action against a large group of people at Kurtamgarh village in the Tumudibandha area on Saturday. The people were angry at the arrest of over 100 people in connection with the recent communal violence in the district.

Director-General of Police Gopal Chandra, who confirmed that the attackers were protesting against the police action, said strong action would be taken against those involved in the attacks.

Four persons were killed in firing at Kurtamgarh when police prevented around 300 people from attacking Christian families at the village.

Police patrolling

The government will intensify police patrolling in the interior areas of Kandhamal. The decision was taken at a meeting at which Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the Kandhamal situation.

The State also requested the Centre to send two helicopters to keep a close watch on the troubled district.

On Monday, the government requested the Centre to retain 40 companies of CRPF in Kandhamal till October-end.

Christians have been targeted in Kandhamal since the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda at an ashram in Tumudibandha area on August 23.

The violence spread despite the police saying that they suspected the involvement of Maoists in the killing of the Swami. The VHP, the Bajrang Dal and other organisations, however, claimed that militant Christians were responsible for the killing.

At least 20 persons were killed and thousands of houses belonging to Christian families burnt down in Kandhamal. Over 20,000 riot-affected people are still living in the 14 relief camps set up by the administration in the district.

Violence was brought under control in the urban areas after paramilitary forces were deployed. However, attacks on Christians continue to be reported from interior pockets till date with the administration failing to find any solution to the crisis.

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