Kandhmal situation under control: Naveen

Bhubaneswar, Sept 25 (UNI) Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said barring stray incidents of minor disturbances, the overall situation in strife-torn Kandhmal was under control.

In a letter to Home Minister Shivraj Patil, the Chief Minister said the state government was keeping a strong vigil on the Kandhmal situation and implementing relief and rehabilitation package for the people affected in the violence.

He, however, has requested the Home Minister to send additional ten companies of the CRPF to assist the Orissa police in maintaining law and order in the district.

Mr Patnaik said, although 43 companies of CRPF had been deployed to assist the Orissa police in Kandhmal, but considering the prevailing situation and the topography of the district, reinforcement should be provided to the state.

The Chief Minister's letter follows a directive issued by the Home Ministry to the Orissa government to take 'effective, focused and firm measures' to bring normalcy and to stop continuing violence against minority community members in Kandhamal district.

Sources said, in a communication, Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta has asked the state government to identify and apprehend the elements creating communal violence and indulging in disruptive activities.

The state had been asked to review the situation and ensure that the situation in Kandhmal was brought under control.

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