By NNN-PTI
Phulbani (Orissa) : Eleven churches and prayer houses were ransacked and torched by suspected saffron activists in several areas of Kandhamal district in Orissa in the early hours Thursday.
Seven churches and prayer houses were attacked and set afire in Gandapadar, Badahapanga, Bhandarapada, Pisupadar, Masapadar, Minia and Adigara under Phulbani sadar police station area, police said.
Rev Basant Diggal alleged that he was assaulted and his motorcycle damaged by a group of miscreants in Minia area where vandals went on rampage causing damage to another church.
Similar incidents of ransacking and burning of three more churches and prayer houses took place in Bakingia, Tiangia and Kotaguda, while miscreants triggered a minor blast at another place of worship, police said.
Curfew was relaxed since last night till 9 am today in four towns of Baliguda, Daringibadi, Brahmanigaon and Phulbani to enable people to buy essential goods and proceed to work places, District Collector Bhabagrahi Mohapatra said.