Curfew reimposed in trouble-torn Tikabali

Bhubaneswar, Sep 4 (UNI) Curfew was reimposed in Tikabali area of the riot hit Kandhamal district after fresh trouble was reported during the visit of state Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal today.

According to reports, some tribal women gheraoed the minister and asked him to provide them relief and free food as they were also affected in the ongoing violence and were without any job for many days.

They alleged that Christians had set afire their own homes to get the benefit of relief and free food supplied by the government.

The police resorted to mild lathicharge as the agitating women marched towards the relief camp in support of their demand.

The authority, apprehending more trouble, reimposed day curfew and later assured the women agitators to consider their demand.

Meanwhile, Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Jaydev Jena at a press conference here condemned the incident and demanded that no one should be allowed to organise such things.

Mr Jena also demanded the government to organise an all party peace committee to restore peace and communal harmony in the state.

He said even twelve days after the incident the government failed to normalise the situation and restore peace and amity among the people.

The OPCC Chief said the Congress Party planned to organise peace march and meeting in all the district headquarters.

He said a silent peace rally was organised here today adding that such rallies would be held in all the district headquarters across the state on September 7 and in Padampur in Bargarha district on September 8 where Rajani Majhi, a Hindu girl was burnt to death.

The people affected in the violence, intellectuals of the areas and the mediapersons would be invited to join the peace rally, he said.

AICC member Ajay Maken and AICC Secretary K Suresh and other senior leaders of the party are scheduled to attend the function.

Mr Maken accompanied by state party senior leaders is scheduled to visit Kandhamal on September 9.

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