Date:26/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/26/stories/2007122655670100.htm

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Curfew imposed in Orissa district

Sib Kumar Das

BERHAMPUR: One person was killed and four churches were damaged as violence escalated in Kandhamal district of Orissa on Tuesday. Curfew was imposed at four places in the district on Tuesday.

The trouble started in Brahmanigaon when two groups clashed over the erection of a decorative arch for Christmas on Monday morning. Country guns were used leading to injuries to two persons.

The vehicle of a senior VHP leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, who was on his way to Brahmanigaon was attacked by a group near Dasingbadi. He, his driver and police bodyguard were injured. This led to a communal flare-up in the tribal district with a sizeable Christian population.

The VHP gave a 12-hour bandh call in the district on Tuesday, coinciding with a 36-hour bandh call given by a tribal organisation, Kui Coordination Committee, to start from December 25 morning.

The Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division, Satyabrata Sahu, told The Hindu that curfew was imposed at district headquarter town of Phulbani, Baliguda, Daringbadi and Brahmanigaon. Officials from adjoining districts were being brought in to the Kandhamal district to initiate peace process.

These simultaneous agitations made the district a virtual war zone. Police could not reach most places as agitators had cut down trees and blocked the roads.