Rejecting the need for a CBI inquiry into the nun’s rape case, the Orissa Government on Monday said it could not accede to the Christian community’s demand to provide compensation for repair of churches demolished during the anti-Christain riots, as it would be against the State’s secular policy.
The Government was responding to a petition of the Archbishop of Cuttak Raphael Cheenath who had sought Rs three crore compensation for demolition of Churches in the State.
In its affidavit before the SC, the state government said clarified that Naveen Patnaik’s Government was not in favour of Centre’s intervention, contending that a Commission of Inquiry headed by a retired High Court judge has already been set up to probe the incidents.
According to the affidavit, the Crime Branch probing the nun’s rape case had made substantial progress with the arrest of eight accused persons and, therefore, there was no need to transfer the investigation to the CBI. It denied allegations that there was a delay in registration of the FIR.
Meanwhile, police on Monday resorted to a lathicharge, injuring 15 people, in an attempt to clear a road blockade in Katingia area of Kandhamal district. Katingia is located nearly 65-kms from Phulbani. The situation is now under control, a senior police official said.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, police on Monday resorted to a lathicharge, injuring 15 people, in an attempt to clear a road blockade in Katingia area of Kandhamal district. Katingia is located nearly 65-kms from Phulbani. The situation is now under control, a senior police official said.
{{/usCountry}}With inputs from HTC Bhubaneswar.