NCM vice chairman off to Orissa to inquire into violence
New Delhi, Sep 11 (UNI) The National Commission for Minorities today sent its one-man mission to Orissa to inquire into the recent violence.
NCM vice chairman Michael M Pinto left here for Bhubaneswar from where he will go to the affected district, an NCM Member told UNI.
The violence broke out after the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and his disciples on August 23.
Over 500 homes and 17 places of worship had been set on fire and more than a dozen people were killed in the rioting that followed.
The NCM member said Mr Pinto will tour the Kandhamal district and all other affected areas.
''The vice chairman has been asked by the Ministry of Minority Affairs not to confine himself to the state capital but to take an intensive tour of the affected areas to get a first hand information about the incidents,'' he said.
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