| Kandhamal: CPI(ML) New Democracy Team's Visit |
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| Written by cpimlnd | |
| Wednesday, 08 October 2008 | |
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On 21st & 22nd Sept. 2008, a Central team of CPI(ML) New Democracy led by Central Committee members Com. Prakash Das, Com. Y.S. Rao, Com.G. Diwakar (AIKMS GS), Orissa Spokesperson of the party Com. Bhala Chandra Shadangi, Zilla Parishad member of the Party from Ganjam Dist. Com. Pratap Nayak, along with six Lok Sangram Manch leaders visited wide areas of communally disturbed Kandhamal District and Ganjam district of Orissa. It met with the people suffered by communal attacks, visited some of the villages of communal attacks, saw burnt and destroyed houses, shops, churches etc and visited 8 relief camps where more than six thousand victims of communal attacks had taken shelter. On 21st Sept the team visited Saringiipi camp at Daringbadi Block in Kandhamal District and could not proceed further due to administrative obstruction. On 22nd it again started visit after administrative clearance but time and again was obstructed by police and CRPF personnel from visiting the relief camps and even denied entry by CRPF and police to Raikia Vijay High School Police camp on 22nd Sept. Despite all obstructions the team could visit and meet victims in Saringipi and Jafrabadi camp in Daringbadi Block, Kudpakia camp and other three camps in K. Nuagaon Block, St. Catherines English medium School camp in Raikia Block, all in Kandhamal District and another camp in Bhanjanagar Block of Ganjam dist. The team saw burnt and destroyed houses, shops & church at Kudpakia village and talked to the victims. It saw the burnt and damaged two storied catholic meeting hall (Divyajyoti) along with burnt vehicle, burnt tea stalls etc in K. Nuagaon village. It was reported to the team that in all the places the communal mob led by VHP-Bajrang Dal-RSS activists attacked the minority community people from 24th Sept 2008 onwards without any provocation, beat, killed and threatened the people, raped number of women, burnt and destroyed houses, looted the belongings, crops and even livestock etc. Those of the minority community who could not or did not flee were forced by this fanatic mob to convert to Hindu religion at the point of weapons. The team came to the conclusion that all the victims are from Christian community and mostly Dalit and Tribal poor people. There is no victim of Hindu community. Thus it was not a riot between two communities, but a pre planned one sided attack by Hindu communal mob instigated by some local businessmen and criminal gangs of VHP-Bajrang Dal-RSS on the innocent helpless common people having faith in Christian religion. The aim of the attack as is evident is to punish the people of minority religion and to convert them to Hinduism by force. Thus carry on the Hindutva agenda of communal forces and strengthen the political position of BJP like forces basing on Hindu religious fanaticism The role of the Govt. is biased and actually the BJD-BJP Govt. colluded with the communal forces as is evident by the role of the police in giving freehand to communal attackers and refusing to record complaints by minority victims against communal attackers. The relief measures are not sufficient. There are shortages of foods, clothes, tents medicines etc. In some places accommodations are not satisfactory and highly congested. In some places like Kurpakia camp and Bhanjanagar camp, there are not even security or police personnel to protect the victims from any probable attack. In every place victims complained that police did not register their complaints or FIR against those attackers. In some places administration is even pressurizing the people to leave the camps. The team demands that on an emergency basis- 1) Cases should be registered against the attackers and arrest them. 2) Proper steps should be taken by the Govt. to maintain communal harmony and to restore peace and normalcy in the communally disturbed areas. 3) Adequate relief measures should be provided in relief camps and in the affected villages. 4) Govt. should arrange to rebuild damaged or destroyed houses, shops, religious places etc and pay compensation for the lost properties. 5) Proper arrangement should be made for the safe return of the people to their respective villages and adequate protection should be given to them to live there peacefully. 6) Steps should be taken to curb communal elements and their organizations. |
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