Forced evacuation alleged in Tikabali relief camp

Activists of the Kuidina Forum for Peace and Justice on Thursday accused the local administration of forceful evacuation of riot-hit victims from the Tikabali relief camp.

The Kandhamal-based citizens' body alleged that after the visit of National Commission for Minorities vice-chairman M.P Pinto, authorities began forcing people to return to their villages.

Mr Hemant Nayak, convener of the forum, said authorities began the forceful evacuation after Pinto said "complete normalcy" was yet to return in the riot-ravaged district.

Pinto after his two-day visit expressed deep concern for the victims in relief camps and said "complete normalcy will be restored only after the last person leaves the camp."

The statement, says Nayak, might have led the administration to force the victims out of camps to prove the situation was normal.

The claims, however, has been denied by the authorities guarding the Tikabali relief camp. "No force has been used and we are only convincing people that normalcy has returned and that they can now return to their villages," an officer said.

Contrary to it, refugees at the Tikabali camp say, they were asked to vacate the camp despite expressing their fear of more violence if returned. The reconstruction of their houses is also yet to be completed, they pointed.

The Kuidina Forum activists have demanded that the government continue providing relief to the victims, at least till the monsoon is over.