Centre worried over Kandhmal situation: Jaiswal

Bhubaneswar, Aug 27 : Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal on Wednesday said he would review why the violence in Kandhmal District of Orissa could not be contained so far.

After arriving here for assessing the situation in the communally sensitive district, Jaiswal said: "There is no sign of violence subsiding in Kandhmal even though three days have passed since the killing of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati."

He further said both Prime Minister and Home Minister are worried over the situation at Kandhamal and the Centre is ready to rush more forces to bring the situation under control

Before leaving for Kandhmal along with a delegation, Jaiswal is expected to meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Earlier, the Minister met State Governor M C Bhandare at the Raj Bhawan here. He held talks with Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy, Home Secretary T K Mishra and DGP Gopal Nanda on the situation separately.

Meanwhile, shoot-at-sight orders have been issued in eight places in the district in the wake of Vishwa Hindu Parishad's (VHP) protest against the killing of its leader Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati while curfew continued in about half-a-dozen towns in Kandhamal and prohibitory orders under section 144 were in force in entire district.

ANI