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Tension grips Kandhamal district |
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Written by Correspondent
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Wednesday, 09 July 2008 |
 Sangh Parivar observes bandh after clash over cow slaughter at Malipara
Activists try to block some major roads
No untoward incident reported from any part
[Editor's note: Please read the fact finding report by aicc Secretary General, John Dayal, which reveals some of the facts below are not accurate. "Kandhamal Situation Report on Tumidibandh Incident," July 11, 2008, http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/2230/45/]
BERHAMPUR: Tension gripped the tribal-dominated Kandhamal district of Orissa following the 12-hour bandh call given by the Sangh Parivar in the district on Wednesday.
Although the bandh had its impact on the life and traffic in the district, no untoward incident was reported during the period. Southern division Revenue Divisional Commissioner Satyabrata Sahu and the southern range Deputy Inspector General of Police R.P. Koche rushed to the district to monitor the law and order situation.
The call was given following a clash over cow slaughter at Malipara village near Tumudibandh on Tuesday.
It all started when some persons were allegedly found to be slaughtering a cow in public near the village which was opposed by the local activists of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal.
The tension aggravated when Bulu Baba, a disciple of the controversial VHP leader, Laxmananada Saraswati, was attacked by some persons. Laxmananda also sat on dhrana in front of the Tumudibandha police station demanding arrest of the persons involved in the attack on his disciples and cow slaughter.
The Sangh Parivar activists tried to block some major roads near Tumudibandh from Tuesday evening and gave a dawn to dusk bandh in protest against the incident at Malipara village. Since Wednesday morning there was no vehicular traffic on most of the major roads in the Kandhamal district. Most business establishments also remained closed at several places.
Police deployment
As a precautionary measure 18 platoons of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, seven platoons of Orissa State Armed Police (OSAP), three platoons of Reserve Police force were deployed at strategic locations of the district especially in areas which were prone to communal tension.
Apart from it, regular patrolling of armed police force continued on all roads of the district throughout the day. Mr. Sahu and Mr. Koche monitored the law and order situation from the district headquarters Phulbani.
The Collector in charge was stationed at communally tense Baliguda. Kandhamal SP Nikhil Kumar Kanodia was at Tumudibandh.
Efforts were made to form a peace committee in Tumudibandh area.
The administration and police had not been successful in this effort till evening.
It may be noted that in December last communal tension had gripped the district leading to deployment of paramilitary forces.
VHP demand
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar, VHP State secretary Pramoda Acharya demanded dismissal of Kandhamal SP Kanodia for his alleged role in patronising illegal cattle transportation and his failure to arrest persons involved in cattle slaughter and attack on disciple of Laxamanananda. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also told newsmen on Wednesday that he and his government were closely monitoring the situation in Kandhamal district. (Source: The Hindu, July 10, 2008, http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/10/stories/2008071051450300.htm) |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 15 July 2008 )
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