CM handling Kandhamal issue in 'partisan' manner: HJS

Bhubaneswar, Nov 07 (UNI) The Hindu Jagaran Samukhya (HJS) today accused Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of handling the Kandhamal situation in a ''partisan manner''.

HJS Orissa unit president Ashok Kumar Sahu alleged Mr Patnaik, holding the Home portfolio, would be squarely responsible for the repercussions of handling the situation discriminately, a statement here said.

He said the killing of Dhanu Pradhani in broad daylight on November 5 in Kumarigaon village under Brahmnigaon police station area, despite the presence of huge paramilitary forces in Kandhamal, was a direct challenge to the state police which failed to nab the killers of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and his four associates.

''Dhanu's murder was predetermined and brutal,'' Mr Sahu said, adding the killers had pumped in 12 bullets in his body from close range.

''The Chief Minister has been partisan in using the coercive armed police against the local Kandhs, many of whom are either hospitalised or languishing behind the bars. They even include women and minors,'' he underlined.

Mr Sahu alleged a number of militants behind the murder of the Swamiji and his disciples, were moving freely. The killers, he alleged, were moving under CRPF protection.

The HJS president warned the Kandhs will never lie low in protecting their dignity.

''They are fighting their battle for cultural existence and have full support of other sections of the Hindus across the country,'' he added.

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