Shoot at sight order issued in Kandhamal

Bhubaneswar, Aug 27: Shoot at sight order was issued in many areas of Orissa's Kandhamal district on Wednesday, Aug 27 as the death toll increased to ten in the curfew imposed area following the incident of killing of VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati.

"We have issued shoot at sight order in the wake of large scale violence in some curfew bound areas of Kandhamal district," said Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Southern division, Satyabrata Sahu. The order was issued after a large number of people armed with sticks and crude weapons defied curfew restrictions and indulged in arson and violence in several places between Baliguda and Udaygiri, he said. Widespread violence also took place in Raikia area where two persons were critically injured in an attack by a mob, said Sahu, who has been camping in the communally sensitive district.

Residence of former Director General of Police John Nayak was attacked by a mob at Raikia, he said adding that the administration has received information about a large number of families from Raikia taking shelter in forest areas. A pregnant woman, whose husband works in Bhubaneswar, has also fled to forest along with some family members, her relatives said.

A church in Kandhamal district has demanded resignation of the Orissa Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik following the case of an orphanage run by Christian missionaries that was set ablaze on Monday, Aug 25 night. A state of high alert was observed in places of Kandhamal.

OneIndia News