Kandhamal victims still yearning for swift justice, new livelihood options

Lack of livelihood options, children excluded from mainstream education, paltry compensation and slow justice system is impeding the progress of Kandhamal victims even four years after the violence.

A fact finding report on the situation of the violence affected people said at least 10,000 people are yet to return to their respective places and many who have migrated to towns and cities are struggling to find viable livelihood options.

The worse of all, out of 245 cases disposed by the Fast Track Court, convictions have been made only in 73 cases and in 172 cases no convictions have been made. 267 cases are still pending for trial. Total persons acquitted as of now are 2433 while only 452 persons have been convicted.

The fact finding team, comprising of journalists and activists said out of total 30 murder cases heard till now, only 6 persons in 2 cases have been given life imprisonment. In the rest cases, almost everybody got acquitted.

"The court premises are dominated by the supporters of fundamentalist forces while hearings are made including influential political persons and hooligans with them. In many places the accused have not been arrested and they are roaming freely and threatening victims and witnesses to withdraw cases against them," the report said.

Last week, August 24, marked the fourth anniversary of the worst violence against Christians.
While some 3232 criminal complaints were lodged by the victims, only 828 were registered as FIRs by the police.

In a memorandum to the Governor of Orissa, the Kandhamal Nyaya Shanti O Sadbhabana Samaj, an organisation comprising of victims, activists and movements, demanded for urgent steps to ensure due justice and peace is restored in Kandhamal district.

"Most of the culprits are acquitted, due to shoddy investigation by the police personnel in all communal cases and also due to intimidation in the court premises to the witness, resulting to losing faith on the justice system. Therefore, we demand the NIA or CBI inquiry into Kandhamal issues," the memorandum read.

According to the Sadbhabana Samaj, several mini and large scale communal violence have been taking place against the minority Christian and Muslim communities in Odisha since 1980.

"The violence including false propaganda, burning of houses, church destruction and beating and killing of minority communities is a regular phenomenon in the state by the Saffron outfits," the Samaj said.

Reminding the Governor that the communal violence was engineered, directed and instigated by fundamental outfits, their memorandum demanded a ban on groups such as the Bajrang Dal and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

It further urged for jobs, the complete reconstruction of damaged houses and special package for rehabilitation of victims.

"The compensation packages declared by the state government for the damaged houses are very meagre. These packages are much less than the compensation packages provided to the Sikhs and other riot victims. Therefore Govt. should provide a proportionate package like Sikh victims to maintain uniformity in the country," the memorandum said.