“I do not know. Ma’am said they were bad people,” said Hemant, when asked who were the outsiders.

The family of 80-year-old Prafulla Nayek, former ADM of Kandamal, shared the same fate. His house was attacked and ransacked. “I called the police for help but no one responded. The mob were able to ransack the front portion of the house. What can I say?” said Prafulla Nayek. Even now, there is no sign of police or security at the homes of the victims.

More serious is the situation in rural areas, including Baliguda, Chakapada, Barakhamba, K Nuagan, where rows of houses belong to the minority community have been burnt or ransacked.

Hundreds have fled heir homes, most of them to the nearby hills.

At Kanjamendi Colony at K Nuangan, there are only a few Christian families staying, with around 10 houses ransacked. After a 7-km trek up the Damberi Parvat, The Indian Express caught up with a group of villagers who have taken shelter in the forest. Men, women and children perched atop a hill with whatever is left of their belongings.

“Over 300 people fled our village and have taken shelter in the forest since last Monday. After the mob attacked our village we took all we can and came here. Here we have almost nothing to eat, there is a constant downpour, our children are sick. But we are alive, thanks to God,” said Kanu Chandra Nayek, a bag on his back.

His wife Sukumari and children Manas (10) and Sanjita (18) were with him. According to them, a mob attacked and ransacked their houses in the colony of the morning of August 25.

... contd.