Orissa govt to rush more forces to trouble-torn Kandhamal

Bhubaneswar, Sep 4 (UNI) The Orissa government today decided to rush additional reinforcement to the violence-hit Kandhamal district.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting here presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to review the law and order situation, following the killing of Swami Laxamananda Saraswati on August 23.

The meeting decided to rush more police force to Kandhamal even though there was a marked improvement in the law and order situation in the district.

A decision was also taken to depute a senior police officer of Inspector General(IG) of Police rank to Jeypore to assess the situation there.

Sources said the meeting also decided to send more food and relief materials to Kandhamal district to help the affected people.

Chief Secretary A K Tripathy, Director General of Police G C Nanda and other senior officials were present at the meeting.

Except in Tikabali area of Kandhamal district, no untoward incident was reported from any where.

In Tikabali, the authorities reimposed the day curfew after a group of tribal women gheraoed visiting Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal demanding relief.

Police resorted to mild lathicharge after the agitating women forced their entry to a relief camp near Tikabali.

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