Bhubaneswar, June 26 (Inditop.com) Home Minister P. Chidambaram Friday asked the victims of last year’s communal riots in Orissa to go back to their villages and lead a normal life, assuring them of full government protection, officials said.
Chidambaram, who has been reviewing the law and order situation in Orissa, visited the Kandhamal district, where at least 38 people were killed in communal riots 2008.
The region, about 200 km from here, witnessed widespread violence after the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides at his ashram Aug 23 last year. Many Christians were forced to flee their homes after their houses were attacked by rampaging mobs, who held Christians responsible for Saraswati’s killing.
Although no violence has been reported from the region since October last year, nearly 2,000 riot-hit people are still taking shelter in government-run relief camps.
The home minister visited some of the relief camps and met the victims, a senior district police official told IANS. Ensuring full protection to them, the home minister requested them to return to their villages and resume their normal lives.
He also assured them all necessary help and protection.”You must be confident that you are safe,” the minister told the victims, according to the police official.
Chidambaram, who is on a two-day visit to the state, visited the anti-insurgency training centre and the district armoury in Koraput, 500 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, Thursday and held discussions with senior state police officers.
The home minister is expected to meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar capital city Friday before returning to New Delhi.
