Curfew re-imposed in Kandhamal, Orissa

Day curfew has been re-imposed on Wednesday in the violent-torn Kandhamal district of Orissa after reports of fresh clash between Hindus and tribal Christians, according to reports. Anti-Christian violence is at its crest and State administration is clueless to deal.

After Weeks of mob violence, hostility returns to the district on Tuesday when a large groups of people set fire several houses in five villages under Udayagiri block. At least three people including one woman and many others were injured when police opened fire to disperse the unruly mob.

According to police the day curfew will be forced till 6:00 pm and if necessary it may be imposed in night too. Meanwhile, 25 persons have been detained by police in connection with the violence.

Kandhamal and neighbouring districts have been witnessing communal violence since August 23, soon after the killing of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati. He and four others were shot dead by unidentified gunmen.

Although state based Maoists group claimed responsibility; certain extreme Hindu groups insisted the hand of Christians behind the killing. Since then many large scale attacks have kept thousands of minority Christians homeless. They are sheltering in government refuge camps after their houses were burnt down by violent mobs.

Many Hindu groups claim that Christian missionaries are engaged in forceful conversion and even by luring tribal Hindus by financial aid. To the contrary, missionaries say lower-caste Hindus convert willingly to escape discrimination of the caste-system.

The state administration has completely failed to stop the violence. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is yet to take any proactive step in bringing religious leaders of both the communities to a round table discussion that is probably the only tool left to terminate the ongoing religious clash.