3 persons killed in fresh violence in Orissa

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8/26/2008 11:27:55 AM

Forces attempting to curb the escalating violence in Orissa

An indefinite curfew was today (August 26), clamped in Orissa's communally-sensitive Kandhamal district following fresh violence in the wake of the killing of VHP leader in which three persons were killed.

"We have information about death of three persons in Raikia area. The details are being collected," Revenue Divisional Commissioner of Southern Division Satyabrata Sahu told. "The situation in Kandhamal district is very tense but under control," he added.

The three persons died of asphyxiation after their houses were torched midnight last night, police sources said.

With the fresh deaths reported from Raikia, the toll in violence triggered by the gunning down of Laxmanananda Saraswati and four others on Saturday night rose to five, official sources said, adding two persons, one each in Kandhamal and Bargarh were burnt to death yesterday during the 12-hour statewide bandh.

Indefinite curfew was imposed in almost all parts of the tribal-dominated Kandhamal district including Phulbani, Tumudibandh, Baliguda, Udaygiri, Nuagaon and Tikabali as a precautionary measure and to bring the situation under control, he said.

Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were deployed in several sensitive areas of the district while schools, colleges and educational institutions remained closed, he said.

A large number of houses and churches were torched by irate mob in several areas including Nuagaon, Raikia, Udaygiri, Phiringia and Baliguda, police said.