11 more Orissa churches, MPs house burnt (Update-Orissa violence)

Tension prevailed in Orissas Khandamal District after a mob torched 11 churches and burnt down the house of a Rajya Sabha MP.

Bhubaneswar, Dec 27 : Tension prevailed in Orissa's Khandamal District after a mob torched 11 churches and burnt down the house of a Rajya Sabha MP.

Suspected saffron activists were involved in the incident, witnesses and police claimed.

The house of Rajya Sabha MP Radhakant Nayak, a Christian, was torched in the Kandhamal District.

According to Nayak, no state government force was in the area to prevent the attack.

This morning Orissa Home Secretary T K Mishra claimed the situation was reviewed and the situation was under control.

Violence was also reported from the Brahmnigaon area of Kandhamal District. A police station was damaged at Phiringia and churches were burnt at many other places, including Kalinga and Tikabali.

Besides Kandhamal district, reports of arson also came from Khajuripada.

Most of these places are remote and inaccessible to security forces, trees have been cut to form road blocks.

There have been reports of an attempt by a mob to burn one person alive at Adaba police station. He reportedly sustained 50 per cent burn injuries and has been admitted to the Berhampur Hospital.

Eleven people have been injured since Wednesday night.

Curfew continued on Thursday in four towns of the district following the killing of a youth and the ransacking of churches.

Paramilitary troops marched through riot-hit areas to prevent untoward incidents.

Though a peace committee has been formed, many Christian families are said to be fleeing their homes.

Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik has reviewed the situation and claimed that steps are being taken to restore normalcy in Kandhamal District.

The Centre has asked the State Government to provide it with a detailed report.

ANI