Chidambaram visits Kandhamal victims in relief camps

Phulbani (Orissa), June 26 (ANI): Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram on Friday visited Kandhamal riots victims in the Government run relief camps here.

Chidambaram, who is taking stock of the law and order situation in Orissa, today visited the Government run relief camps in Mandaika, Rahikola, Tinigia and Tikabali in Kandhamal district.

He assured the riot victims that action would be taken against the culprits involved. Chidambaram asked them to think of starting their life afresh.

"I am sorry that certain things happened last year and you have been brought to these camps. But you must go back to your villages. I am here to tell you, don't fear," Chidambaram said.

Nearly 1500 people, mostly tribals are living in relief camps set up after a series of communal riots which followed the killing of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati in August last year, in Kandhamal district.

Meanwhile, in the wake of increased Maoist activities, the Orissa Government has urged the Centre to deploy paramilitary personnel. The State Government has also asked for helicopters and grants for setting up a anti-Naxal training centre.

During the meeting with the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, state government officials sought seven more battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force, and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to train men of the state police,

Hours before the Home Minister's visit to Orissa, Maoists blew up mobile towers and a railway station, and cut off the road leading to Narayanpatna block in the Koraput district on Thursday.

Chidambaram cancelled his visit to the NALCO, bauxite-mining area in the same district citing a "technical" problem. (ANI)