Patil to visit Kandhamal today

The Hindu, 3rd September, 2008

BHUBANESWAR: Communal violence-hit Kandhamal district of Orissa started limping back to normality on Tuesday with no untoward incidents reported during the day.
The district had been witnessing widespread communal violence for the past several days after the killing of VHP leader Swami Lakshmanananda and four others on August 23. At least 16 persons were killed in Kandhamal in the violence and attacks on Christians in the aftermath of the killing. Unofficial reports, however, put the violence death toll at 30.
A high-level team of officials of the Orissa government visited riot-hit Kalahandi district on Tuesday to assess the situation.
The officials, including Home Secretary Tarunkanti Mishra and Director General of Police Gopal Chandra Nanda, visited two relief camps and interacted with the riot- affected people.
Mr. Mishra said measures were being taken to provide basic facilities to those in the nine relief camps. Around 10,000 people had reached the camps after they were attacked and their houses burnt down by members of the majority community.Curbs lifted
Meanwhile, the State government lifted the restrictions on the visit of political leaders and other dignitaries to Kandhamal.
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil is scheduled to visit the district on Wednesday.
The government also announced that Justice Sarat Chandra Mohapatra, the former High Court Judge, would conduct the judicial inquiry into the killing of Swami Lakshmanananda and the subsequent communal violence. Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and other senior officials of the Home Ministry have been in close touch with the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and other officials of Orissa.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, whose government is being criticised for its failure to control violence, said the situation was under control both in Kandhamal and Jeypore town of Koraput district. He termed the communal violence unfortunate. Appeal for peace
Representatives of a number of religious organisations and eminent persons have appealed for peace and harmony in Kandhamal.
At a press conference here, they said conversion and cow slaughter had given rise to communal hatred in Kandhamal and urged the government to strictly implement the laws relating to both the issues.