National   

Put down lawlessness, Orissa told

NEW DELHI: As communal violence in Orissa continued, the Union Home Ministry on Thursday expressed the view that there was “apparent lawlessness” in some parts of the State and the State government must take firm steps to deal with it.

The action taken by the law enforcement agencies may be reviewed and strict instructions issued to all concerned to bring the “apparent lawlessness” under control, official spokesperson of the Home Ministry quoted Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta as having told Orissa Chief Secretary A.K. Tripathi in a message.

Terming the “continued and repeated” violence in Kandhamal district as a “serious matter,” the Home Secretary asked the State government to restore normality and take stringent action against those involved.

Mr. Gupta reminded the State government that substantial paramilitary forces were made available to Orissa to deal with the communal violence and there was considerable scope for optimum deployment and use of these forces.

Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Home Ministry M.L. Kumawat described the situation in Orissa as “pretty bad” as churches and prayer houses continued to be vandalised.

“The attacks were made in a very systematic manner like blocking the roads by felling trees so that police cannot go to the spot,” he told reporters. Mr. Kumawat said the State government needed to take very firm action against those instigating violence.

Stories in this Section

Put down lawlessness, Orissa told
Ministry to intervene in Ambanis’ row
People deserve solution on Singur: Governor
Advani rejects ban on religious conversion
Peace march taken out at Jamia
Deo Committee finalising report
Kharif output projected to be lower by 5.6 million tonnes
CII-IQ will release its education excellence model
All for peace
3 militants killed in police encounter
PDP leader shot dead in Baramulla
E-mail warns suicide attack on Advani
Court: why is Raj not prosecuted?

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