Congress demands Patnaik's resignation over Orissa violence

Congress demands Patnaik's resignation over Orissa violence

Bhubaneswar, Jan 6 (IANS) The Congress party Tuesday demanded that Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik resign over the communal violence in Kandhamal district as the Supreme Court had held the central and state governments responsible for the security of minorities.

A Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Justice Markandey Katju and Justice P. Sathasivam had Monday said that the central and state governments should 'ensure the minority's safety'.

'The apex court's observation is quite clear. Chief Minister Naveen Pantaik has no right to stay in power for even a minute,' state Congress president Jayadev Jena told IANS.

He added that the state government woke up to the matter only after thousands of Christians in Kandhamal, about 200 km from here, had fled to nearby forests following the communal riots.

'He (Patnaik) should resign immediately. If he doesn't resign, the Congress will take the issue to the public,' Jena said.

The Supreme court bench was hearing a petition by Cuttack Archbishop Raphel Cheenath, seeking Christians' safety in Kandhamal, the district that was ravaged by anti-Christian violence following the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his associates Aug 23.

While police blamed Maoists for the killings, some Hindu organisations held Christians responsible for the crime and launched attacks on the community. Christian organisations have repeatedly denied their involvement in the murder.

At least 38 people were killed and thousands of Christians were forced to flee their homes after their houses were attacked by rampaging mobs. Over 6,000 people are still living in government-run relief camps.

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Bandh hits normal life in south Orissa

December 6, 2008 PTI

Normal life was paralysed in southern Orissa on the first day of the two-day shutdown called by Maoists to protest the killing of a man by security forces in Gajapati district in November.

Security was tightened and patrolling intensified in Gajapati, Kandhamal and Rayagada districts of the state, where the bandh disrupted vehicular movement and forced the shops to down shutter. Markets also remained closed while offices and educational institutions recorded thin attendance.

Additional police personnel were deployed in sensitive areas and at the entry points where vehicles were checked, official sources said.

Life virtually came to a grinding halt at Mohana and Adaba areas of Gajapati district as well as Bisamakataka and Salada areas of Rayagada where roads wore a deserted look, the sources said.

In Kandhamal, areas like Daringibadi, Raikia, Kotagada, Tumudibandh and Brahmanigaon were hit by the bandh.  more

Maoists abduct four policemen in Orissa

Bhubaneswar (IANS): Maoist rebels abducted four personnel of the Orissa State Armed Police (OSAP) from the State's Malkangiri district, police said on Saturday.

The policemen were kidnapped at gunpoint on Friday when they were travelling in a jeep along with a few villagers near the Chitrakonda reservoir in Malkangiri, about 700 km from Bhubaneswar. The personnel were deployed for anti-Maoist operations in the district.

"A group of rebels stopped them (the policemen) near Chitrakonda reservoir and asked them to get down from the vehicle," District Superintendent of Police Satyabrata Bhoi told IANS over telephone.

"The driver of the vehicle told us that the rebels took the jawans (personnel) away, but left the others (the driver and villagers) behind," he said.

Search operations are underway in the region, Bhoi added. courtesy