Centre sends more paramilitary forces to Orissa, Delhi, Maharashtr

New Delhi, Oct 1 (UNI) Expressing concern over the continuing attacks against a minority community in Orissa, the Centre has asked the state government to take more effective steps in quelling the violence and decided to send ten more companies of para- military forces to help it in maintaining peace.

The decision to send more security forces was taken in the view of renewed violence in the riot-hit Kandhamal district which claimed the life of a woman and injured eight others following which curfew was clamped in the area, the Home Ministry spokesperson said.

The Ministry had expressed dissatisfaction over the manner in which the situation was handled by the Navin Patnaik government and the replies it sent to the Centre on its notices, he said.

The Home Ministry has also decided to send four companies of para-military forces to Maharashtra in view of the festival season.

Concerned over the recent serial blasts and explosion in Mehrauli in the national capital, nine companies of para-military forces are being provided to Delhi Police for beefing up security arrangements during the festival season.

The Home Ministry said it was not satisfied with the response of the Orissa government to the notices issued over the continuous attacks on the minority community in the state and said "much more needs to do done" to prevent further attacks on the minorities and reduce communal tension.

Describing the situation as bad, it has called for taking legal action under the Indian Penal Code against leaders of groups indulging in violence against minorities.

According the Ministry, the attacks on the minoruty community and vandalisation of their places of worship were continuing unabated.

In a communique to the Orissa government, the Ministry had said action which was taken by the law enforcement agencies should be reviewed and strict instructions be issued to all concerned to ensure that the prevailing situation of "apparent lawlessness" was brought under control.

It had asked the state government to take firm and effective steps to contain the situation, the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has decided to a send a team to Kandhamal area of the state to assess the situation.

UNI AJ GT KN1910