Date:27/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/27/stories/2008082750450100.htm

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Violence spreads in Orissa

Prafulla Das

Death toll rises to 10

4 die in Kandhamal district and one in Gajapati district
Group clash at Barkhama

BHUBANESWAR: With violence spreading to more areas in Orissa on Tuesday following the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda, the death toll has gone up to 10.

Four people were killed in a clash between two communities at Barkhama village in the worst-hit Kandhamal district and one person was stabbed to death at Mukundapur village in Gajapati district.

Bombs, firearms used

At Barkhama, where the majority is Christian, a mob set afire several shops and houses. Both sides used bombs and firearms, a top police official told The Hindu over telephone in Bhubaneswar. A police team reached the area and dispersed the crowd.

2 bodies recovered

The official said two bodies were recovered from the spot, while the clashing groups took away two other bodies.

Attacks on houses, shops, churches, prayer houses and other properties were also reported from different parts of Kandhamal, where curfew was extended to two more towns during the day. Curfew is already in place in four towns of the district.

According to official sources, churches and prayer houses were attacked in at least five villages in Gajapati district. A police vehicle was damaged when it tried to enter a village where a church was vandalised.

On Sunday night, one person was killed in Rupa village when many houses were set on fire.

A woman inmate of an orphanage in Bargarh district was burnt alive on Monday during a bandh called by the VHP and its allies.

Late on Monday night, three people were killed when a mob attacked the residents of Piangia village in Kandhamal district.

No-confidence motion

On Tuesday, the Opposition Congress moved a no-confidence motion against the Naveen Patnaik government in the Assembly. The House is likely to hold a discussion on the motion on Wednesday.