NCM meets Patil on Orissa Christians attacks, to visit state

New Delhi, Aug 27 (UNI) Concerned over the attacks on Christians in Orissa, the National Commission of Minorities(NCM) had a meeting with the Home Ministry last night to obtain information about the situation prevailing there and to convey its concern over the violence.

NCM Chairman Mohammad Shafi Qureshi along with another member called on Home Minister Shivraj Patil yesterday and urged him to ensure immediate action by the state government to stop the violence against the community and provide them safety of life and property.

The Commission has also written to the state government to send it a report on the situation, and decided to send a team later, after obtaining preliminary information, an NCM member told UNI.

Attacks on Christians started after VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his associates were killed on August 23 in the state's Kandhamal district.

Hindu groups have alleged that Christians masterminded the killing, a charge all Christian churches and denominations have denied.

The situation in Kandhmal has been described as tense after four people were killed in group clashes yesterday between the two communities at Barakhama village under Baliguda police station.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal is visiting the trouble-torn Kandhmal to make an on-the-pot study of the situation.

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