Kandhamal, the communal tinderbox, on Wednesday continued to explode, forcing the state Government to issue shoot-at-sight orders.

The orders came even as Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal expressed his dissatisfaction over the bandh in Kandhamal.

Revenue Divisional Commissioner (southern division) Satyabrata Sahu said shoot-at-sight orders were issued in places like Kandhamal, Baliguda, Tumudibandh, Raikia, Nuagaon, G Udaygiri, Tikabali and Sankarakhol.

The authorities issued the orders after a large number of people armed with sticks and sharp weapons defied curfew restrictions and indulged in arson and violence in several places between Baliguda and G Udaygiri, he said.

One more person, Gayadhar Digal, a resident of Firingia Block, was killed on Wednesday when unknown assailants attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon. While unofficial sources put the death toll at 14, officials confirmed only nine deaths. They added rural areas in Kandhamal saw large-scale violence and arson as miscreants put obstacles like logs and boulders on roads to prevent the police from marching in.

Curfew continued to be imposed in the nine police stations of Kandhamal district and was only lifted for two hours in between.

As many as 123 persons have been arrested so far and 11 cases have been registered in different incidents. According to Sahu, four persons have been detained in connection with the killing of Lakshmanananda Saraswati.

Jaiswal, who arrived here on Wednesday, said the state had failed to control the violence. “Had they taken effective steps, the situation could have been controlled. The situation is out of control,” he added.

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