More para-military forces deployed in Kandhamal

Bhubaneswar, Sept 26 : The Centre on Friday rushed more para-military forces to riot-hit Kandhamal District of Orissa, where curfew was clamped in nine sensitive areas in the wake of fresh violence on Thursday.

Following a request from State Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, about 700 para-military force personnel were deployed in troubled areas of the district to strengthen security and prevent further flare up.

According to Kandhamal District Collector Krishan Kumar, miscreants blocked a large number of roads by felling trees and putting boulders, making the force mobilization act difficult. But the obstacles were being removed on a war footing. o fresh violence took place on Friday and the situation remained tense but under control, Kumar said.

Meanwhile, keeping in view the continuing incidents of violence against the members of a minority community in Kandhamal, the Central Government has asked the Orissa Government to take effective, focused and firm measures to stop the violence and restore peace and normalcy in the State.

Earlier, an independent fact finding mission comprising of academics and intellectuals said the attacks were selective and still unchecked.

"The people have been forced out of their villages. We saw selected houses belonging to the Christians have been burnt and the churches have been broken or burnt," said Manoranjan Mohanty, a member of the fact-finding mission.

On Thursday, nearly 100 houses and a couple of churches and prayer houses were either set afire or damaged in about half-a-dozen places under Raikia, Daringibadi, Tikabali and G Udaygiri police stations around dawn break in which one person was killed in a crude bomb attack.

At least 42 companies of security forces including CRPF and Rapid Action Force have been deployed since violence broke out after the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati on August 23.

ANI