Orissa Church leaders concerned over a growing outfit

Church leaders in Orissa have expressed apprehensions over a growing outfit, which they say could be a potential threat to the communal harmony and peace in the State.

In a letter to the chief minister of Orissa, Naveen Patnaik, Catholic and Protestant leaders said "a certain Laxmi Baba staying in Mahindragiri in Ganjam district is organizing an outfit on communal lines and has already trained 300 youth as per information available."

The outfit, they conveyed, could be a "potential threat to communal harmony and peace in the State" and hence "steps need to be taken in time to avoid future violence and disharmony."

The leaders also expressed concern for the 3000 victims of Kandhamal violence who are still in government-sponsored relief camps.

The affected families were unable to return to their homes due to continuing threats from fundamentalists, they said. "They need to be provided with security and rehabilitated as soon as possible."

Additionally, many of the affected people have also not received compensation for the houses destroyed or damaged. The Christian leaders asked the politico to "direct the district authorities to speed up the settlement of lands in favor of the affected people on urgent basis."

The letter was submitted to the chief minister by a delegation led by Archbishop of Orissa, Raphael Cheenath.

The delegation congratulated the chief minister on his electoral victory and said the results "demonstrate that it is a comprehensive victory for democracy and secularism."