Children from Orissa recount their plight during riots

Children, who witnessed communal riots that broke out following the killing of a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader in Orissa, recently recounted their harrowing experience.

Kandhamal (Orissa), Sept 3 : Children, who witnessed communal riots that broke out following the killing of a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader in Orissa, recently recounted their harrowing experience.

The trauma is more than visible as the children who fled to the nearby jungles to save their lives, start sobbing even at the mention of those horrific times.

Recollecting the horror scenes, Pramila Mallick, a victim said, "They have burnt all my belongings. We have no food to eat for the last few days. They are now reluctant to eat it. But we are helpless as we are not going to the rehabilitation centers because of fear."

Rekha is one such child whose sobbing tells the whole story of the ordeal.

"I have not eaten rice for the last three days. We are in forest," said Rekha.

People of the region fled to the jungles for fear of their lives after communal violence hit Kandhamal district.Among those were the 21 children of a remote orphanage at Bargah in the region that was torched by a mob.Even if the children had escaped the flames of communal fire, the harrowing experiences continue to haunt them.

Authorities have set up relief camps and ration is also being made available to the affected people in addition to survival packages that include clothing and utensils.

ANI