Subramaniam told the Bench that the Centre was keeping a close watch on the situation. He said a senior official from the state should assure the court that the Government would fully assist the paramilitary forces in protecting lives of people in riot-hit areas.

However, the counsel for the Orissa Government contended that the allegations of the archbishop were not correct. He also denied any knowledge of Tagodia’s plan to take out a yatra in the state, asserting he was hearing it for the first time in the court. He told the Bench that the situation in the riot-hit areas was under control and that the Crime Branch was already probing the incidents. However, the Bench said it was not concerned about the veracity of the allegation. “At this stage we are only concerned with the protection of lives.”