Judicial inquiry into Kandhmal violence begins

Nearly 40 days after violence erupted in Kandhamal district following the assassination of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Laxmananda Saraswati, the judicial commission on Friday began inquiry into the incidents, official sources said.
     
Justice S C Mohapatra, who was earlier named as head of the judicial commission, arrived on Friday at the district headquarters town of Phulbani and held discussion with the officials before visiting the riot-ravaged pockets of Kandhamal.
     
Mohapatra is scheduled to visit Jalespeta Ashram on Saturday from where he will begin field visit of the riot-hit district, officials said.
    
Besides, the commission will also meet people in different relief camps and tribals who have been agitating for a long time.
    
The VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati and four others were gunned down on August 23 by unidentified miscreants which sparked largescale violence in Kandhamal.