Normalcy returning to Orissa, Centre supports CBI probe

Bhubaneswar,Sept 4 : Orissa is slowly returning to normalcy as banks, shops, business establishments, schools and other offices are opened on Thursday following the lifting of day curfew in Jeypur town of Koraput District.

The day curfew has been lifted after four days as situation has improved. The vehicular traffic from the district headquarters of Koraput and Jeypur has resumed.

According to official sources, no fresh violence or untoward incident has been reported from anywhere in the district for the last three days.

Meanwhile, tension prevailed in Tikabali town of communually sensitive Kandhamal District as a group of people tried to ransack a relief camp demanding daily employment and free ration.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will hear a writ petition filed by the Archbishop of Cuttack seeking a CBI probe into violence against the Christians in the state today.

On Wednesday, the apex court had postponed the hearing after it directed the State Government to submit its report on steps taken to protect the lives of people belonging to the Christian community in riot-hit Kandhamal district by Thursday.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has said that Centre is not averse to a CBI probe into the Kandhamal violence if the State Government or the Court asked for it.

He declared that Centre would give three lakh rupees each to the kin of those who lost their lives to the violence.

Patil asked the State Government to prepare a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate the violence-affected families in Kandhamal and elsewhere.

On the same day, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that he fully understood the anguish expressed by many people over the violent incidents and said the Centre is monitoring the situation in the state.

The Prime Minister was replying to a letter from Sister Nirmala of the Missionaries of Charity. He said it has been emphasised to the state authorities that every step must be taken to restore normalcy.

It is highly unfortunate that so much of violence has taken place. These incidents should never have happened. We have been constantly in touch with the State Government. I have myself spoken to the Chief Minister. The Centre has made available all the forces required by the State, the Prime Minister said.

Dr. Singh also announced a package of assistance from the PM's National Relief Fund to the next of kin of those who have been killed and to those injured and those who have been rendered homeless.

He said that he is separately asking the Home Minister to advise the State Government to provide necessary protection to the houses and workers of the Missionaries of Charity.

ANI