Probe on 2007 Christmas violence likely to be extended

The government is likely to extend its time period on the 2007 Christmas violence probe, sources said.

The Justice Basudev Panigrahi Commission which began its probe Wednesday last week, concluded its four -day investigation after only seven witnesses had turned up on February 27 and 28.

"Five persons deposed before the commission and two others filed petitions praying for time," Commission lawyer J. C. Das told.

The commission had earlier felt 'unsatisfactory' as none of the witnesses turned up on Feb 25 and 26, which eventually led to the two-day extension.

So far, Justice Panigrahi has only been able to record statements of 76 witnesses although it had received 458 affidavits.

While Justice Panigrahi is probing the riots of December 2007, Justice Sarat Chandra Mahapatra is conducting another judicial inquiry into the August, 2008 riot in the aftermath of VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati's killing.

In both the riots, Christians were killed, churches burnt and homes razed to the ground forcing thousands to take shelter in the forests.