Date:03/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/03/stories/2008010357420300.htm

Other States - Orissa

MP’s concern over violence in Kandhamal district

Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from North Bangalore H.T. Sangliana here on Wednesday expressed concern over communal violence in Kandhamal district.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Sangliana said it was unfortunate that the communal violence was continuing even as it entered 10th day. The communal tension surfaced in Brahmanigaon village on eve of Christmas celebration on December 24 last. Without naming any organisations, he said some vested interest groups managed to create division between local Christian and non-Christian tribal communities.

Thousands of villagers belonging to Christian community were displaced, hundreds of houses were burnt down, and several churches were demolished, all under the pretext of taking ‘revenge’, the BJP MP accused.

He, however, refused to name Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which was alleged to be one of the forces involved in the violence.

Meanwhile, Central Committee member of VHP Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, who was attacked by miscreants on eve of Christmas, was recuperating in SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack.

Attack on Saraswati had reportedly triggered violence all over the district.

The BJP MP from Bangalore was not alone, who had come to the state to express concern on communal violence, several rights activists, including film maker Mahesh Bhat, had already showed their anguish over the violence.

All of them criticised the manner in which the Sate Gvernment handled the situation.