Date:16/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/16/stories/2008101659271200.htm

National

BJD organises peace march

Prafulla Das

BHUBANESWAR: Seven weeks after communal violence began in tribal-dominated Kandhamal district, the ruling Biju Janata Dal on Wednesday organised a peace march here with an appeal to the people to maintain calm.

Communal violence broke out in Kandhamal and other parts of the State soon after Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati was killed by suspected Maoists at Jalespata ashram in the district on August 23.

Mr. Patnaik called upon the gathering to strengthen communal harmony.

Medical examination

Meanwhile, the Crime Branch police arranged for the medical examination of the prime accused in the nun rape case. Mitu Patnaik was examined at the Shriram Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack.

He was one of the three accused arrested in Kerala’s Palakkad district. They were brought here onTuesday.

According to police sources, the three would now be taken to Baliguda in Kandhamal for collection of evidence. Five others were arrested earlier.

The police, however, have not been able to bring the nun to the State to participate in the judicial proceedings. She has reportedly told the State police that she would not cooperate with it, and she wanted a CBI investigation in the case.