Three killed in fresh violence in Orissa's Kandhmal District

Kandhmal, Sept 30 : At least three people were killed and several were injured when the police opened fire to disperse the violent mob in Orissa's Kandhmal District today.

Police opened fire when a 500-strong mob of women attacked the Raikia police station demanding release of two tribals arrested in connection with communal riots.

According to sources, the local tribals have blocked all roads to Raikia by placing logs of trees and boulders to prevent entry of additional police forces.

On Monday, a dead body was found floating in a river near Raikia region of Orissa.

According to reports, the body is allegedly of a Christian man who had gone missing after the communal clashes, which broke out on Friday.

Earlier, locals living in Raikia region of the State have been asked to put up red colored flags on top of their houses to identify themselves as Hindus.

The locals said that it has been made mandatory for every Hindu to put these flags as symbol of their religious faith.

The region has been witnessing communal violence since August 23, when Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and four of his aides were shot dead by unidentified gunmen at his Jalespata Ashram.

Many Hindu nationalists say they are determined to fight Christian missionaries accusing them of what they call '' forcibly converting'' Hindus to Christianity.

Meanwhile, Christian missionaries say lower-caste Hindus convert willingly to escape discrimination of the caste-system.

ANI