Kandhamal situation improves, curfew lifted in four areas

Director General of Police Manmohan Paraharaj, who visited the district on Friday said there was a definite yearning for peace among the people in the district. “However, there is still apprehension among people of a community about their safety. We have to think of how to reach out to people of both the communities,” he said. He added that 42 companies of CRPF stationed in the district may not be taken out anytime soon.

The Kandhamal district administration on Friday forbade VHP international joint general secretary Shyamji Gupta, state general secretary Gouri Ratha and national coordinator of Bajrang Dal Subash Chouhan from visiting the Shankaracharya Kanyashram at Jalespeta, where Laxmanananda was gunned down along with 4 others in August.

Soon after the three leaders arrived at Phulbani, they were escorted out of the district by the police. Chouhan alleged that the government was discriminating against VHP leaders while allowing politicians from Congress and other parties to come to the district.

Meanwhile, the Justice (retd) Sarat Chandra Mohapatra commission, constituted to probe the killing of Laxmanananda and the subsequent riots, arrived at the district headquarters town of Phulbani on Friday and held discussions with the officials with Justice Mohapatra visiting Jalespeta Ashram on Saturday.