Orissa victims' kin to get Rs 3 lakh in damages: Govt

The Centre has announced Rs 3 lakh ex–gratia to each family of those killed in the anti–Christian rioting in Orissa's Kandhamal district.

With the deployment of 500 personnel of CRPF, sources say, the district is slowly limping back to normalcy, witnessing a decrease in violent incidents against Christians.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who visited Kandhamal and reviewed the situation there, announced the compensation to the Christians.

"This sort of incident which took place here is unprecedented," Patil said adding that the present situation in the district was somewhere between "normal and volatile"

The Centre's announcement was rendered after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week promised financial aid to Christians affected by the rioting in Orissa. At least 400 Churches have been burnt and 50,000 people fleeing to forests or shifted to relief camps.

"The central government will provide assistance to family members of persons who have lost their lives and those victims who have been permanently incapacitated in the incidents in Orissa," he said.

In addition, "a package of assistance to the people who have suffered in the incidents, including those rendered destitute and homeless and support for repair of houses damaged, including orphanages, will be provided."

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik meanwhile asserted that peace was returning in Kandhamal and the government is doing everything possible to protect the Christians.

He asked the officials to respond to the Supreme Court which asked for a report on the steps taken by the government to protect the lives of the minority Christians.

Patil, who was earlier, apprised the situation at a review meeting, said restoring peace and tranquillity was the prime objective for the Centre as well as for the state government.

Assuring all help to the state government to tide over the situation, Patil said he had asked the Chief Minister to prepare a plan for rehabilitating the affected people who had lost their near and dear ones as well as houses.

Patil also cautioned the state government that unless it takes adequate measures to book and punish the persons involved in "such incidents", there is possibility of report of "unfortunate" happenings in future.

The violence has now gripped 13 of Orissa's 30 districts. It began after Laxmanananda Saraswati, a Hindu religious leader, and five of his associates were killed on Aug. 23 in Orissa's Kandhamal district. Although Maoists have claimed responsibility for the killings, Hindu groups continue to blame Christians.