State Relief Commission confirms 4050 affected by Orissa Christmas violence

Reports from the office of Special Relief Commission, yesterday, claimed over 4050 people were affected in the communal violence that began on a Christmas Eve on December 2007.

A Commission headed by former judge Justice Choudhury P.K.Mishra, of Orissa High Court has been formed with the inclusion of social worker Chandrika Mohapatra, veteran Oriya film personality Sarat Pujari, editor of local daily, Samaya, Satakodi Hota, musician Prafulla Kar and social scientist Dhiren Kumar Ray, to conduct an investigation on the incident.

The Commission would look into the sequence of events and circumstances that led to the anti–Christian violence, including the role of various organizations, political groups and the police.

It will gather information through written verified statements and also take oral evidence of all individuals, representatives of different organizations and police to analyse the cause of disturbances in Kandhamal.

Meanwhile, Christian Today, last week learned that Orissa district authorities demolished houses of at least 36 Christian families that were under construction in Kandhamal.

It is alleged that the authorities took the outmost step at the behest of Hindu radicals who accused the Christians of illegally acquiring the land.