Three found dead in Kandhamal as violence spreads

Despite Orissa government claiming normalcy in Kandhamal, three dead bodies of Christians were found near a river in Bisipada village.

The bodies were spotted in Badasalunki river by some villagers in the afternoon. Two of three bodies were said to be of a Christian couple who lived in Sankarakhol area of the district. The victims were missing since Thursday.

Global Council of Indian Christians said the couple identified as Meghanath Digal and his wife Premashila Digal of Dangoli village, were reportedly killed for their denial to reconvert to Hinduism.

According to reports, many houses were also set on fire in Tumudibandha, Tikabali and G. Udaygiri areas. A number of interior G. Udaygiri, Raikia, Tikabali and Tumudibandha areas remained cut off due to blocking of roads by miscreants.

Sources said the houses belonging to Christian families living in relief camps were being burnt as they were not willing to return to the fold of Hinduism.

Top officials of the state have been vying to mobilize leaders of both Christian and Hindu community at Phulbani, to find ways for stopping the ongoing communal violence.

Meanwhile Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik attended a meeting in Phulbani to assess the law and order situation. He announced a development package for the riot–hit district and said "Peace and harmony must be maintained at all costs. There should be no leniency towards perpetrators of violence.”

More than 3,000 federal police have already been deployed in the region. Violence first erupted in Orissa after the killing of a Hindu leader linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and four others last month.

"We have moved seven more companies of paramilitary forces to the troubled areas," Orissa's inspector general of police in charge of law and order, Pradeep Kapur, said.