Bhubaneswar, December 26 (Odisha.in) Tension continues to prevail in several towns of Kandhamal district on Wednesday despite prohibitory orders imposed by the district administration.
Even though additional paramilitary forces have been deployed in at least four towns of the tribal dominated district since last night, fresh violence has been reported in two places this morning.
However, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik termed the situation under control. He has issued an appeal asking people of the district to maintain communal harmony and cooperate with the district
administration.
Urging local people to maintain peace in the area he said, “During such emergencies in earlier times the people of Kandhamal have shown their peace intuition. I hope this time too they will come forward to
maintain their reputation.”
On Tuesday, there was palpable tension in the district following bandhs by Kui Samaj and VHP. About a dozen Churches were attacked while vehicles set ablaze including one parked at the residence of BJD minister Padmanav Behera whose brother’s house also was attacked.
The administration had to impose curfew following several clashes between Christians and Hindus. The violence was sparked after an attack on Laxmananda Sarawati, a VHP leader who was leading an
anti-conversion movement on Monday.
While, top officers of the administration were seen busy reviewing the situation even as reports of miscreants attacking Churches, setting fire to vehicles trickled in from Padinga, Phiringia, Baliguda and
Nuagaon.
Even though the police was focusing on containing the situation at Brahmanigaon and Daringbadi, other parts of the district like Phiringia and Raikia were on the boil. While Tikabali police station
and another police outpost were attacked on Tuesday, Phiringia police station was ransacked on Wednesday.
What has shocked the people is that the simmering distrust and trouble was known to one and all including the top police bosses. The Kui Samaj had been protesting against a Bhubaneswar based organisation, patronised by Minister Padmanav Behera.
The Samaj had alleged that the organisation was trying to provide ST status to Kui speaking people.
Top ranking police officers in the rank of IG, DIG were monitoring the situation and trying to persuade people to hold peace committee meetings. The DGP Gopal Nanda also said that the situation was being closely monitored and efforts on to establish peace.
Meanwhile, the state government has deputed irrigation secretary Aurobinda Behera and IPICOL MD Ashok Meena to oversee the situation and discuss with the agitating people. More CRPF jawans also have been sent to control the situation.
Odisha.in