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PHULBANI: The bandh called by District Kui Coordination Committee protesting non-fulfillment of their demands by the government evoked mixed response.
The coordination committee alleged that out of their 33 demands only a few have been fulfilled so far while the major demands are yet to be addressed.
While vehicles remained off from the roads and business establishments downed their shutters, all government offices, the local court and some educational institutions functioned normally though the attendance was thin.
Coinciding with the bandh, Adivasi Harijan Surakshya Samiti, which was formed three months back by taking members from ST and SC communities to counter Lambodar Kanhar, secretary of Kui Coordination Committee, organised a gathering in the Coronation Ground here where about 500 persons assembled.
Speakers lashed out at Kanhar holding him responsible for the communal riots that scarred the district. Demanding his arrest under National Security Act, the speakers also said he was responsible for the ethnic violence in 1994 and 2007. Later the members of the samiti submitted a 15-point charter of demands addressed to the President and Chief Minister to Kandhamal Collector.
The demands include initiation of stringent action against Kanhar, upgradation of G.Udaygiri block to subdivision and establishment of an agro-based industry in the district among others.
In a press meet, members of the samiti said they have decided to organise peace meetings in Tikabali, G.Udaygiri and Daringibadi to restore normalcy in the strife-torn district. President of the samiti Sashibhusan Mallick urged the district administration not to pay heed to the demands of Kanhar claiming that majority of tribals have left him for his anti-tribal activities.
Keeping in view the bandh called by the Kui Co-ordination Committee and samabesh by Adivasi Harijan Surakshya Samiti, the administration made elaborate security arrangements. CRPF personnel along with local police forces were deployed in all the important places of the town to prevent any untoward incident.
DIG R.P.Koche personally monitored the situation. No violence was reported from anywhere.
Over 1 lakh accused in Kandhmal case, say Orissa cops
PHULBANI (Kandhmal): Holding trial for the accused in the recent communal riots in Kandhmal district of Orissa could turn out to be an onerous and
long drawn process as over a lakh people have been accused of their involvement in the violence. The police, based on 698 FIRs filed in connection with the carnage that happened mostly in August and September in the southern Orissa district, have found that 11,348 people are named accused, while over 89,424 people have been categorized as others in the complaints. "The number would go further up as 75 more cases have been lodged since we made the assessment a few days ago,'' a senior police officer said. Conducting investigation, arresting the accused and organizing trial for such a huge number of accused is being viewed as a "big challenge'' for the state administration, admitted officials. "This is an unprecedented situation in Orissa. We have never dealt with a law and order situation of this magnitude,'' pointed out a top cop. Officially, 39 people were killed in the religious mayhem. Police have so far arrested around 700 people in connection with the murders, arson and other violence that took place in Kandhmal. Even incarcerating those arrested has been a major headache as the states prisons are overcrowded. The jails in Kandhmal district could not accommodate such large number forcing us to shift a good person of the under trials to jails in Ganjam and other places, official sources said. In such a scenario, police are at odds to nab all the accused and, going by sources, want to concentrate on the core elements who number around 200. "Our focus is to punish the core accused. It would be unmanageable if we chase one lakh people. Besides considering it as a social problem we have to tackle the problem tactfully. Else, if we succeed in taking action all named and unnamed accused in the FIRs then peace would never return to Kandhmal,'' said the senior police officer. "We plan to club cases involving the same accused and focus only on those against whom evidence is available.'' DGP Manmohan Praharaj told TOI, "We have already put around 50 police officers of different ranks on the job to assist in investigating the case.''He admitted that the number of people accused in the cases is "huge''. "We will do whatever we can in step with the law.'' Special administrator, Kandhmal, Madhusudan Padhi said, The government has decided to set up fast track courts to expeditiously dispose of the cases.
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