1 more dies in Orissa, CM acts tough

The Orissa government has begun fixing responsibility on the police and administration officials, reports Himansu S Sahoo.

While one more death was reported in the communal clashes in Kandhamal district on Saturday, the Orissa government has begun fixing responsibility on the police and administration officials.

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In Barakhama area of the district, the police found the body of 60-year-old villager Gobara Nayak. His death was suspected to have taken place during stone throwing between two groups. With the fresh casualty, the death toll in Kandhamal increased to five. Over a dozen people are hospitalised after sustaining injuries in separate incidents of clashes and police firing.

State Director-General of Police Gopal Chandra Nanda told

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that the body of Gobara Nayak was found in a forest area in Barakhama and there were bleeding injury marks on his face and head. The body has been sent for post-mortem and what exactly led to his death is being verified, he said.

The DGP further informed that the officers-in-charge of Tikabali and Phiringia, the two police stations which were ransacked and set ablaze by the mob two days back, were suspended. They were charged with dereliction of duty and failure to act according to the situation. The circle inspector of Phulbani Sadar was shifted on similar grounds.

The revenue inspector of Khajuripada, whose office was burnt by the mob, was also placed under suspension. Late on Friday evening, the state government had notified the shifting of the district collector of Kandhamal. The collector of Malkangiri, Manish Verma, replaced Kandhamal collector Bhabagrahi Mohapatra.

Due to the prevailing tension, curfew remained in force in Daringibadi, Bliguda and Phulbani areas of Kandhamal.

However, there were no fresh reports of attacks on institutions or houses of Hindus and Christians during the day.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the situation was normalising fast in Kandhamal and more forces are being sent by the government to the district to ensure peace.