Shivraj Patil reviews situation in Kandhamal

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today reviewed the situation in Kandhamal at a meeting held at Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, senior officials and leaders of political parties.

Bhubaneshwar, Sep 3 : Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today reviewed the situation in Kandhamal at a meeting held at Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, senior officials and leaders of political parties.

Patil also toured some of the worst-affected areas and relief centres in Kandhamal, official sources said.

Under attack for prohibiting outsiders from visiting Kandhamal, the state government on Wednesday lifted restrictions on entry into the district. Senior BJP leaders are likely to visit Kandhamal on Thursday.

"Now there is no restriction on visit of outsiders to Kandhamal," a senior officer said.

A high-level team, which visited Kandhamal on Tuesday, worked out strategies for containing violence in the tribal-dominated district as well as accelerating relief and rehabilitation for the affected.

Meanwhile, 500 additional CRPF personnel were deployed in riot-ravaged Kandhamal where, barring stray incidents, life was limping back to normal on Wednesday with the Orissa govt allowing outsiders, including politicians to visit the disturbed district.

"Five additional companies of CRPF comprising nearly 500 personnel were deployed in sensitive areas after they reached Kandhamal district," a senior officer said.

Their presence would help the situation to improve in rural and remote areas of the violence-scarred district, he said.

The Centre also sent a helicopter. Day curfew was suspended in most places.

ANI