SC directs Orissa to submit report on Kandhamal by Thursday

New Delhi, Sept 3 (PTI) The Supreme Court of India Wednesday directed the Orissa government to place by Thursday its report relating to steps taken to protect lives of people belonging to the Christian community in riot-hit Kandhamal district.

The apex court also asked the state government to put on affidavit whether any permission was granted to Viswa Hindu Parishad leader Praveen Togadia for his proposed Yatra carrying the ash of slain leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K. G. Balakrishnan posted the matter for further hearing for Thursday.

The petitioner, Archbishop of Cuttack Raphael Cheenath, alleged that after this matter was taken up Tuesday, more violence was reported and a church was destroyed while around 100 families belonging to the community were completely uprooted in one of riot-hit villages.

His counsel Colin Gonsalves sought a stop on the proposed yatra by Togadia saying it will further foment trouble in the area, which is witnessing a tense situation.

He alleged that the state government and its police force were not cooperating and assisting the central para-military forces, including Rapid Action Force and Central Reserve Police Force, which was clear from the reported statement of the Commandant of the C.R.P.F.

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam submitted that the Centre was keeping a close watch on the situation and the Home Minister along with a delegation has left for Orissa this morning to assess the situation.

The Aditional Solicitor General said that a senior
government official from the state should assure the court
that the state government will fully assist the para-military
forces in protecting lives of people in riot-hit areas.

However, counsel for the Orissa government contended that
the allegations of Archbishop were not correct.

He further said that he was not aware of any yatra to be
taken out by Togadia as he was hearing it for the first time
in the court.

He claimed the situation in the riot-hit areas was under
control and a similar P.I.L. has been filed in the Orissa High
Court.

He said that the Crime Branch has been entrusted the
probe of the incidents.

However, the Bench said at this stage the court was not
concerned with the investigations but with controlling the
violence.

The Orissa government counsel said that the Home Minister
has gone to the state to find out whether these allegations
were correct or not.

However, this submission was opposed by the A.S.G. who
said that the Minister has gone to see whether people were
provided protection or not.

He said, it was the duty of state government to assist the

para-military forces so that no life was lost.

In a petition filed yesterday, the Archbishop claimed
that the attack on churches and other properties belonging to
the community was a well orchestrated conspiracy and pleaded
that the National Human Rights Commission (N.H.R.C.) be asked
to conduct a probe to find out which organisation was behind
the Kandhamal violence.

Giving details of the damage and loss of property, the
petition alleged the Orissa government had failed to protect
the life and property of the community and the measures taken
by it, including the compensation announced for the affected
families, were not enough.

The petition also sought a compensation of Rs. five lakh
for the families of those killed in the violence, Rs. four
lakh for those whose houses were destroyed, Rs. two lakh for
those whose houses were damaged partially and Rs. one lakh for
those injured.

The petition also sought USD 30 million as compensation
for the damage caused to churches.