India's Kandhamal violence unabated

Reports of sporadic incidents of communal violence in Orissa continue to pour in, state government says Four peoples have been arrested for the charges of raping the Nun and the police officer suspended.Home Minister, Mr. Shivraj Patil has sent a strongly-worded letter to the Orissa Chief Minister, Mr. Naveen Patnaik asking him to take effective measures and provide security for the Christian community. The letter came hours after the Union Cabinet expressed grave concern over the situation in the state with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directing Mr. Patil to present an appraisal report on the situation at the next cabinet meeting.Meanwhile, Mr. Patnaik has claimed the central force was being properly utilised in the riot-hit district of Kandhmal.A total of 46 companies of central forces were deployed in Kandhamal alone as nine of the 12 police station areas in the tribal-dominated witnessed violence since over a month.In the meantime, over 370 persons have been arrested in connection with the recent violence in Kandhamal district. The joint operation by CRPF and Orissa Armed Police is continuing to apprehend people possessing illegal arms.

The district Superintendent of Police Mr. S. Praveen Kumar said, 154 arms licences were surrendered so far. Action will be taken against the persons who have not deposited their arms licences within three days stipulated time that ended yesterday.
2008-10-03 05:27:29 - Centre has sent ten more companies of CRPF, came to Kandhamal in phases for deployment in sensitive areas. Now with these ten addtional companies there are in total 46 companies of para-military forces are engaged in fighting Kandhamal violence.

Inspite of appeal and promises by CM Naveen Patnaik the state of affairs of Orissa remain under scanner due to continuous vandalism. Arson,looting and burning of hosues continues in state of Orissa in Boudh District and the communal and ethnic violence still remains flared -up ,the tribal burnt the twenty houses of Dalits in Matakapa village of Kantamala block. Kantamala is close to the Gochhapada police station.The Police chief ,The DG, Manmohan Praharaj, camping in Kandhamal from last two days said the violence in Boudh was not a communal one. The last two days violence saw three people killed and more than dozen injured including policemen.
Ashok Masih Mattu, chairman of Indian Christian Concern, based in the UK, one of the groups organ­ising tomorrow's rally, said 'It's a very, very sad situation, and I've never seen anything like it before. The Indian government has said it's doing everything in its power to stop it, but the killing is still going on.'London rally calling for an end to the current wave of anti-Christian vio­lence in the Indian state of Orissa will take place in London tomorrow.Tomorrow's march will be attended by the MPs John McDonald (Hayes and Harlington) and Virendra Shar­ma (Ealing and Southall) and repres­ent­atives of British Hindu groups.The demonstration will start at Richmond Terrace, by Victoria Em­bankment, at 2 p.m., and will deliver petitions to 10 Downing Street, and the Indian High Commission in Aldwych.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement that what was happening in Orissa was a 'national shame' Amnesty International has urged the Indian Government to 'match its words with action' and ensure that violence against Christians in Orissa stops.

"Curfew was relaxed in all nine police station areas during the day as no untoward incident took place. Night curfew will, however, remain in force," Kandhamal District Collector Krishna Kumar said adding police were asked to remain alert to any eventuality.

According to police, about 48 people, including some belonging to the Sangha Parivar, were arrested following a tough strategy adopted by the new director general of police Manmohan Praharaj, camping in the trouble-torn district since Wednesday.

With the arrest of 48 persons since Tuesday, the total number of arrests in Kandhamal district has increased to 337. An order had been issued asking all licensed gun holders to surrender weapons at their respective police stations in the wake of violence for over a month.

Orissa, the night curfew will continue to remain in force in nine police station areas of Kandhamal district. Day curfew was relaxed today following improvement in the overall law and order situation in the district. The District Superintendent of Police, Mr. S. Praveen Kumar told AIR that more than three hundred persons have been arrested on the charges of violence, rioting and arsoning in the district so far. No untoward incident has been reported since last two days.