CPI(M) urges PM for CBI probe into violence against Dalit Christians

New Delhi, Mar 20 (UNI) Communist Party of India (Marxist) Lok Sabha MP Hannan Mollah has requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to initiate a CBI inquiry in the Christmas-week violence against the Dalit Christians of Orissa.

In his two-page letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Mollah drew the latter's attention to the ''barbaric and fascists'' communal attacks faced by the poor and Dalit Christians of Kandhamal district of Orissa at the hands of ''the most heinous communal outfit of our country''.

He further stated that the poor and backward but peace-loving people were attacked in the name of religion. Innocent people were killed and women and children assaulted, 80 houses were totally destroyed and 104 Churches damaged more than 200 false cases were lodged against these people and they were being threatened to leave either Christianity or Orissa itself.

He said the victims were living in bad conditions in the relief camps, with no help from the Orissa Government.

Hundreds of those victims were sitting on an indefinite hunger strike here seeking redressal of their grievances. It was the duty of the State to give adequate protection to its ''peace-loving citizens'', protecting their religious rights, so they can live in their homeland in peace.

Mr Mollah, in his letter, had also asked for instituting a CBI inquiry into the Christmas-week violence against Christians in Kandhamal, for which the alleged leader of the crime, Laxmananda Sarswati, was arrested for incitng attacks against the Christians.

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