Situation improving, curfew relaxed in Kandhamal

In the face of a few small-scale confrontations reported on Sunday in some riot-hit districts that compel authority to constrict movement in those sensitive places, the Kandhamal district of Orissa observed a peaceful Monday with no fresh incident of violence.

The situation as reported by local media is returning back to customary activity but people are still scared to come out of their homes fearing any untoward incidents. Hundreds of Christian families have taken shelter in relief camps following a violent week and still there are many living in forest with fear to avoid attack on them.

Meanwhile, a curfew imposed on the Jeypore town of Koraput District that witnessed communal violence on Saturday was lifted in the day time on Monday. At least 11 people were injured in violent clashes on August 30.

After a three days curfew in Kandhamal District, the authority had lifted it for 10 hours on Friday allowing normalcy. But as precautionary measures, the State has urged the Centre to send more para-military forces to contain violent activities.

558 houses, 17 churches were torched: Govt

The state government on Monday provided a brief outlook of the life and property loss in the week-long religious clash. According to officials, at least 558 houses and 17 churches/religious places were torched during the communal clash which broke out on August 23 following the killing of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati.

In a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, it was identified that 543 houses were alone torched in the worst affected Kandhamal while 15 were in the Gajapati district.

The assessment further figure out the total number of injured persons in Kandhamal as 35 and death toll at 16, though it differs to the lot high of private estimation.

Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy also briefed about the relief and rehabilitation activities in the violence-hit areas such as Raikia, K Nuagaon, Balliguda, Phiringia, Tikabali, Chakapada and Daringibadi blocks in Kandhamal districts. People were being provided with food and other necessities in relief camps.