By IANS
Phulbani (Orissa) : Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil Wednesday visited Orissa’s riot-hit Kandhamal district and assured the victims of last week’s communal clashes of government protection and security.
Patil – on a day’s visit to the state – visited a rehabilitation camp set up in Barakhama village where over 700 people have taken shelter after their houses were burnt in rioting.
Barakhama, about 200 km from here, was worst hit in the communal riots in this predominantly tribal district.
Patil also visited a Baptist church and some houses that were torched during the riots.
Earlier, immediately on his arrival, Patil met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Governor Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare to discuss the situation in the state.
At least three people were killed in the district and dozens injured in the sectarian clashes since Christmas Eve.
On Dec 24, mobs allegedly owing allegiance to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal set fire to 14 churches in the district. Christian groups claim that nine people were killed in the attack.
The state government has clamped a curfew in the district and deployed more than 1,500 policemen, including three companies of paramilitary forces, but the situation continues to remain tense.
Fresh violence was reported in the district over the past two days.
Hundreds of people Monday torched two houses, one each at Rabingia and Barpada villages, about 150 km from district headquarter Phulbani.
Another mob attacked a house at Daringbadi village Monday, the police said.
The union home minister on his arrival in the state capital Wednesday morning was received by state Congress president Jayadev Jena, leader of opposition J.B. Patnaik and senior officials, including state chief secretary Ajit Tripathy.
Patil had nearly an hour-long meeting with Patnaik and senior government officials during which he was told about the steps taken for providing relief and rehabilitating riot victims, an official of the chief minister’s office told IANS.
Patil is scheduled to visit Barakhama village of the riot-hit district. He will go there in a helicopter along with the chief minister.
The Biju Janata Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition government in Orissa has been accused of not taking appropriate and timely action in the matter.