Land disputes, negligence cited in interim report: Kandhamal

The judicial commission designated to investigate last year's anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal submitted an interim report to the Home Department this week.

In the report, the S.C. Mohapatra commission identified several local factors which it said had fuelled communal violence in the wake of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati's murder.

Among the few it enumerated, it singled out tribal land disputes and negligence of authorities to be chief reasons to have prolonged the violence in the communally sensitive district.

The 28-page report held the district administration responsible for the violence which made no reference to riots instigated by saffron groups. The report emphasized on the "cumulative anger" caused by the negligence of land disputes among tribals and panas.

According to sources, the commission has examined 100 witnesses, including four govt officials. It has also recorded the statements of victims in relief camps.

Apparently, the report has also mentioned names of several organisations and persons who might have fomented violence in the region.

The one-man inquiry commission has demanded two more years to complete the investigation.