Army stage flag march in Kandhamal

Bhubaneswar, Aug 26: After imposing curfew in Orissa's volatile Kandhamal district, the police and the paramilitary forces held flag marches in troubled towns on Tuesday, Aug 26 following violent protests during Monday's state-wide shutdown call by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to protest against the killing of its leader Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four others.

Besides imposing prohibitory orders under section 144 (which prohibits assembly of five or more persons), curfew has been imposed in Baliguda, Phulbani and Tumudibandh towns, and the police and the paramilitary forces held flag marches in the trouble areas this morning, official sources said.

Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were deployed in several sensitive areas of the district while, schools, colleges and educational institutions remained closed.

On Monday, VHP activists, while carrying out a procession along with the body of the slain VHP leader, defied curfew and damaged two churches, prayer houses and over ten vehicles.

Reports said that protesters burnt alive a 45-year-old woman in an orphanage at Khuntpalli village in Bargarh district. In Kandhamal district, where suspected Maoists gunned down the Swami and four of his disciples on Saturday night, a villager was burnt to death.

Many churches, prayer houses and other Christian institutions were attacked in Kandhamal, Bargarh, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Boudh, Sundargarh and Jajpur districts. At least two prayer houses were damaged in the capital city.

Road and rail traffic was affected all over the State during the shutdown. Banks, markets and business establishments remained closed, while government offices recorded thin attendance.

In the State Assembly, Bharatiya Janata Party legislators trooped into the well and stalled the proceedings demanding the immediate arrest of those involved in the killing of the Swami. The Congress gave notice for moving a no-confidence motion against the Government on Tuesday.

ANI