Violent strife Kandhamal now open for all

As the government of Orissa is in the process of restoring peace and harmony in the riot hit Kandhamal district, the leaders of almost all major political parties visited the region to take note of the exact situation here on Saturday.

Earlier the administration had put a ban on the leaders of political parties and religious organisation to enter into the disrupted area after considering the violent situation emerged last month over social status of two communities which later turned into religious clash.

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However, on Friday after the government lifted ban on entry to Kandhamal, several religious guru’s and top most leaders of the political parties visited the district and meet people in the affected areas.

Following the ban imposed to enter into that region the parties have set an ultimatum for the BJD-BJP government that they would forcefully enter Kandhamal if the administration doesn’t lift the ban.

Leader of opposition JB Patnaik was still able to visit some areas of the strife-torn districts with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Jan 02. Mr. Patil had assured security to all the local communities and appealed for keeping calm.

Later on a team of National Commission for Minorities (NCM) and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also visited the region and met families of those who got affected by the clash between the two communities: ‘Pana’ Christians and ‘Kui’ tribes.

Kandhamal Crisis

It was probably one of worst violence in the history of Orissa if one counts it as a communal clash. Though it was more a social conflict between the SC Pana and Tribe Kui considering the origin of the spar, it took an ugly turn with the involvement of Hindu religious activists following the attack on the religious leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.

The violence that continued for three days (Dec 24 – 27) killed atleast three people and injured many. A dozen of churches were vandalised by Hindu activists in their violent protest against the attack and many houses belong to both the communities were burnt down.

The home minister in his visit had expressed grief for the people who suffered and also showed his commitment to extend all possible cooperation to the state management for providing necessary items relief and rehabilitation of victim’s family.