Day curfew lifted in Orissa's Kandhamal district

Kandhmal (Orissa), Oct 3 : A day curfew was lifted from nine police station areas of Kandhamal district of Orissa today.

This was decided at a high level meeting in Phulbani on Thursday night.

According to official sources, the situation has improved considerably following deployment of more central para-military forces, seizure of illegal arms and arrest of culprits responsible for the violence. n Tuesday, at least three people were killed and several were injured when the police opened fire to disperse a violent mob in Kandhmal district.

The 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.

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