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Bhubaneswar (IANS): Midnight Christmas mass was attended by thousands of Christians amid tight security across Orissa, including Kandhamal district that had witnessed widespread anti-Christian violence earlier this year. In many places Hindus joined Christians in the celebrations, officials said Thursday.
"We have not received information of any trouble. It seems to be all peaceful," the Archbishop of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar Raphael Cheenath told IANS.
"We held the Christmas mass with prayer and singing," Cheenath said, adding that he is satisfied with the security arrangements made by the government.
"We are confident the Christmas celebrations will also pass off peacefully in the state," Cheenath said.
Midnight mass was held peacefully in Kandhamal amid heavy security cover.
Officials said except for the felling of two trees on the road in two places early Thursday no untoward incident was reported. The trees were promptly removed by security forces.
"There has been no problem so far," Kandhamal district collector Krishan Kumar told IANS by phone.
About 8,000 people still living in government-run relief camps in the district also attended the Christmas mass and decorated their camps, officials said.
Kandhamal district, about 200 km from here, witnessed widespread anti-Christian violence after the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides Aug 23. At least 38 people were killed in the state and thousands of Christians forced to flee their homes after their houses were attacked by mobs. Extremist Hindu groups charged Christians with the murders, a charge repeatedly denied by Christian groups.
Trouble makers at Kandhamal identified
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PHULBANI, Dec. 11: The Kandhamal district authorities today said it had identified trouble makers in the district ~ 500 of them. Some of them have been arrested and a few more will soon be booked under the National Security Act."Police patrolling and deployment will be enhanced from 20 December in view of the Christmas celebrations," said district collector Mr Krishan Kumar.
At least 600 fake certificate cases had been registered and 225 of these cases have been disposed till date. Director, Orissa Watershed Development Mission Mr T Bhaskar Reddy and director, horticulture Mr JD Sharma informed reporters here about the new watershed scheme Jeebika. The scheme, intends to involve about 40,000 families of the district over the next three years. "An outlay of Rs 80 crore has been made," informed Dr Reddy.Talking about the land dispute redressal work, the district collector said that he has been empowered to take suo-motto cognizance of the cases, wherein tribal lands have been transferred in the name of SC people by the last settlement of 1976 and bring the matter to the notice of special administrator Mr MS Padhee.
This apart, the allegation that tribal lands have been purchased without prior approval of concerned authority as per Regulation-II of 1956, are inquired into. "So far, 234 cases in this connection have been registered and in 175 cases, tribal lands have been returned to the original owners. The revision of cases is also made on a priority basis," said Mr Kumar.With regards to tribals, who have encroached forest land prior to 2004, Mr Kumar said: "As per existing provisions the tribal family will get a maximum of 10 acres of land, so far, 62 such families have been identified." The district collector also referred to the special package for the district which involved setting up of a BEd college, a mega nursery for horticulture and two training institutes. n sns
PHULBANI, Dec. 11: The Kandhamal district authorities today said it had identified trouble makers in the district ~ 500 of them. Some of them have been arrested and a few more will soon be booked under the National Security Act."Police patrolling and deployment will be enhanced from 20 December in view of the Christmas celebrations," said district collector Mr Krishan Kumar.
At least 600 fake certificate cases had been registered and 225 of these cases have been disposed till date. Director, Orissa Watershed Development Mission Mr T Bhaskar Reddy and director, horticulture Mr JD Sharma informed reporters here about the new watershed scheme Jeebika. The scheme, intends to involve about 40,000 families of the district over the next three years. "An outlay of Rs 80 crore has been made," informed Dr Reddy.Talking about the land dispute redressal work, the district collector said that he has been empowered to take suo-motto cognizance of the cases, wherein tribal lands have been transferred in the name of SC people by the last settlement of 1976 and bring the matter to the notice of special administrator Mr MS Padhee.
This apart, the allegation that tribal lands have been purchased without prior approval of concerned authority as per Regulation-II of 1956, are inquired into. "So far, 234 cases in this connection have been registered and in 175 cases, tribal lands have been returned to the original owners. The revision of cases is also made on a priority basis," said Mr Kumar.With regards to tribals, who have encroached forest land prior to 2004, Mr Kumar said: "As per existing provisions the tribal family will get a maximum of 10 acres of land, so far, 62 such families have been identified." The district collector also referred to the special package for the district which involved setting up of a BEd college, a mega nursery for horticulture and two training institutes. n sns
BJP performs poorly in Kandhamal civic polls
Kalinga Times Correspondent
Phulbani, Dec 3: Bharatiya Janata Party has failed to show its strength in the polls held to the Phulbani Municipality and G. Udaygiri Notified Area Council.
When the results of the polls to the two urban bodies were announced on Wednesday, BJP emerged third among the three major parties. The polls were conducted on Tuesday amid tight security.
In Phulbani municipality, BJP bagged only two seats out of the total 13. Opposition Congress won the maximum number of five seats, while BJD got 4 and Independents won in two wards.
Congress also won in maximum number of wards in G. Udaygiri NAC. It won in six out of the total 13 wards. BJD took the second position with four seats and BJP got just one. Independents won in the remaining two wards.
In both the civic bodies, BJD and BJP had entered into a pre-poll alliance. While BJD had contested in seven seats each at both places, BJP had fielded its nominees in six wards each. But the two parties together failed to secure majority in both civic bodies.
However, which party or parties will form councils in Phulbani and G. Udaygiri will now depend on the decision of the Independents
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