Fresh arson, violence in Kandhamal

Over three dozen houses, a church and a prayer hall were attacked as fresh violence and arson erupted on Saturday at several places in Orissa's riot-torn Kandhamal when Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was reviewing the situation in Kandhamal during a visit here.

The houses, a church and a prayer hall were either torched or damaged by miscreants at Raikia, G Udaygiri, Daringibadi and some other areas, sources said.

Around 30 houses were set afire and damaged by a mob at Rajanpanga in Daringibadi area while two houses were damaged at Kiramaha in G Udaygiri area, they said adding a church was damaged at Kupaguda in G Udaygiri area.

At Raikia Area, which witnessed largescale violence in the last four days, about half-a-dozen houses were damaged at Lumungia village by a group of about 50 people.

The incidents occurred when the chief minister was reviewing the situation at a closed-door meeting at the district headquarter town in Kandhamal with senior officials.

Meanwhile, a four-member team of National Human Rights Commission, which arrived in Kandhamal on Friday, visited a relief camp here and met tribal leader Lambodar Kanhar and representatives of the minority community.

They also visited some places of Raikia, G Udaygiri and Tikabali, sources said.

The death toll in communal violence has touched 29 since the riots broke out in Kandhamal after the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Laxmanananda Saraswati on August 23.

Altogether 267 people have been arrested in 313 cases of arson and rioting so far, the sources said.