National

Normality returning to Kandhamal district

BHUBANESWAR: Communal violence-hit Kandhamal district of Orissa has started limping back to normal even as curfew continued to remain in force in four towns of the district on Sunday.

No fresh violence was reported in the district and prayers were offered in some churches during the day. Communal violence began a day before Christmas.

As many as 50 persons have been arrested and formal cases registered against many of them on various charges, including damage to churches and burning down of houses. Action has also been initiated against officials who failed to contain the violence.

Curfew in Phulbani, Brahmanigaon, Baliguda and Daringibadi is likely to continue till the end of New Year celebrations, as the situation is still tense.

A senior official said those who fled their villages and taken shelter in forests and other places have started returning home. In some places, many people were still missing. Official sources confirmed that at least four girl students had gone missing from the hostel of a missionary school in Baliguda area. The administration has started the process of tracing the girls.

Relief camps have been set up by the district administration to provide shelter to those whose houses were burnt down. The administration has also started distributing relief materials, including blankets, to those whose homes were burnt down.

A delegation, comprising leaders of several Opposition parties, called on Governor M.C. Bhandare to seek his intervention for restoration of peace in the district.

At a press conference, president of Global Council of Indian Christians Sajan K. George demanded deployment of the Army in Kandhamal. He demanded adequate compensation for reconstruction of churches and houses destroyed.

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