Orissa
Violence spreads in Kandhamal district
Sib Kumar Das
| Procession with the slain leader’s body enters Phulbani in defiance of curfew orders |
District Collector is gheraoed and his vehicle damaged
Dozen places of worship are torched and police stations attacked
No way to go: Traffic flow is hit as a huge tree is felled by VHP activists, who are enforcing a bandh, at Andharikote in Kandhamal district on Monday.
BERHAMPUR: Embers of violence spread all the tense Kandhamal district along with the funeral procession of the slain VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati on Monday.
Around a dozen churches and prayer halls were torched, police stations were attacked, and around 20 vehicles were damaged. It all coincided with the funeral procession of the VHP leader which was on its way to Chakapada, where the last rites were held on Monday evening. It was also the day of bandh call by the VHP in protest against the killing of the Swami.
The procession of the body of the slain leader began at 11.30 am on Sunday from Jalaspeta residential ashram school where suspected Maoists had gunned him down along with four others. As precautionary measure curfew was imposed in volatile Phulbani, Baliguda and Tumudibandh areas. Restrictions under Section 144 were imposed on all 15 police station areas of the district. But it could not prevent the flames of violence.
2 policemen injuredThe large procession accompanying the body of the slain leader defied curfew and entered Phulbani town. They defied the order of the administration to take a bypass and not to enter the town under curfew. Entry of the procession accompanied attacks on two churches at Phulbani. Some vehicles and houses of minority community were also damaged. Two policemen were injured while trying to check the mob. The jeep of the in-charge of the Phulbani Sadar police station was torched. The protesters also gheraoed District Collector, Krishan Kumar and damaged his vehicle.
Flag marchReports of arson of prayer halls and houses also poured in from Baliguda, Barkhama, Tikabali, G.Udaygiri and Tumudibandh.
The CRPF personnel had to undertake flag-march at Tumudibandh following attacks on churches and houses. The in-charge of the Barkhama police outpost had to be rescued from a mob who had kept the outpost under seize. As per reports the
Inspector In-charge of the Tikabali police station was also injured while trying to check the violent mob. Houses were torched at Rupagaon village under Pasara outpost of Tikabali police station.
According to reports a paralytic man was burnt in this fire, but police are yet to confirm the incident. The Pasara outpost was also torched.
Revenue Divisional Commissioner, southern division, Satyabrata Sahu said keeping in view the volatile situation curfew has been extended till further orders in Phulbani, Baliguda, Tumudibandh, K.Nuagaon. Movement of police force inside the district was also hampered due to felling of trees in some pockets.
National VHP leaders including Praveen Bhai Tagodia and BJP leaders of the State like Juel Oram and State ministers, Surama Padhi and Golak Nayak reached Chakapada to take part in the funeral of the slain BHP leader.
The Sangh Parivar activists showed their angst and did not allow any policeman to enter the Chakapada ashram premises where the funeral was held in the evening. Even the security guards of the State Ministers were manhandled. Earlier two bikes had been torched at Chakapada.
