Central forces’ deployment in Kandhamal extended

September 4th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - The Orissa government has shut down the last of the relief camps for the victims of communal riots in Kandhamal district, an official said Friday. We have shut down the last two relief camps at Tiangia and Mandakia.

August 23rd, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - After ensuring peaceful Janmashtami, the district police of Kandhamal Sunday stepped up security as on this day last year Laxmananda Saraswati, a Hindu right-wing leader, was killed along with four of his associates at his ashram, sparking communal violence. "The Hindu groups have already celebrated the anniversary of Swami Laxmananda.

July 31st, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Manoj Pradhan, an accused in last year's communal violence in Kandhamal district, surrendered before a local court Friday as his bail period got over. His bail was extended for 15 days by the Orissa High Court on July 17.

July 21st, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday blamed the central government for not helping the state in countering the Maoists effectively. "There is not enough central assistance to counter the Naxalites (Maoists) in our state effectively," Patnaik said replying to an adjournment motion moved by the opposition in the state assembly on growing Maoist activities in the state.

July 3rd, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has opposed the withdrawal of central forces from Kandhamal district, which witnessed communal riots last year, and demanded their re-deployment to ensure peace in the region, officials here said Friday. Patnaik has requested the central government to re-deploy the forces till the situation becomes completely normal," a senior official of the chief minister's office told IANS.

July 1st, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - Four companies of central paramilitary forces posted in Orissa's Kandhamal district following communal violence last year were withdrawn Wednesday, an official said. They were the last of the central forces posted there to keep the peace.

May 31st, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - At least five companies of the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), comprising about 500 personnel, were withdrawn Sunday from Orissa's Kandhamal district that had witnessed communal violence last year, an official said. An official of the state home department told IANS that the paramilitary troops would be replaced by an equal number of state police personnel.

May 16th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - A candidate accused of involvement in last year's anti-Christian riots in Orissa has won the assembly elections, official said. Manoj Pradhan, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, won from the Udayagiri constituency in Kandhamal district.

April 20th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - The election in Orissa's troubled Kandhamal district went off peacefully last week, but state authorities want the central forces deployed in the communally-sensitive region to stay on for a while longer, officials said Monday. The central government wants to withdraw the 45 companies of paramilitary forces, including the forces deployed in Kandhamal after the communal riots last year.

March 1st, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - Authorities in Orissa's Kandhamal district, which witnessed communal violence last year, have sought additional central forces to ensure the smooth conduct of the upcoming assembly and Lok Sabha elections, an official said Sunday. 'We have informed the state government that we need about 12 additional companies of central paramilitary forces during the elections,' district collector Krishan Kumar told IANS.

March 1st, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - Authorities in Orissa's riot-hit Kandhamal district have sought additional central forces to ensure that the upcoming assembly and Lok Sabha elections are conducted smoothly, an official said Sunday. 'We have informed the state government that we need about 12 additional companies of central paramilitary forces during the elections,' district collector Krishan Kumar told IANS.

January 14th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - At least seven companies of the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), comprising 700 personnel, were withdrawn Thursday from Orissa's Kandhamal district that had witnessed communal violence last year, an official said. 'The CRPF companies were deployed in areas such as Belghar, Baliguda, Pabingia, Mandashore and Katingia.

January 14th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - Christian leaders in Orissa Thursday voiced resentment over the withdrawal of security forces from Kandhamal district that had witnessed a wave of anti-Christian violence, saying that normalcy has not yet returned to the region. 'Christians are not feeling safe.

January 12th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - Over 4,000 personnel of central forces deployed in Orissa's Kandhamal district in the aftermath of communal violence will be withdrawn in phases, an official said Tuesday. The central government has directed the state to initiate the withdrawal of forces from Thursday (Jan 15), Home Secretary A.P.

December 26th, 2008 BHUBANESWAR - Orissa may seek an extension of the deployment of central forces in the communally sensitive Kandhamal district as authorities feel there are still undercurrents of tension prevailing in some remote areas. 'We need the presence of central forces for some more time as complete normalcy is yet to be restored in interior pockets,' a police officer in Kandhamal told IANS Saturday on condition of anonymity.