Conversion, reconversion led to Kandhamal riots: Commission

Bhubaneswar (PTI): Conversion and re-conversion were among the major factors which led to the riots in Orissa's Kandhamal district last year, a judicial commission probing the violence has said.

"Sources of the violence were deeply rooted in land disputes, conversion and re-conversion and fake certificate issues," Justice S C Mohapatra, heading the one-man panel, said in his interim report on the violence in Kandhamal which claimed 43 lives besides damaging many houses and churches.

He, however, did not elaborate on the conversions and reconversions issue.

"Suspicion among the scheduled tribe and scheduled caste inhabitants of Kandhamal is the main cause of riots with the tribals suspecting that 'Pano' dalits were capturing their land through fraudulent means," Justice Mohapatra said.

Besides the issues of land and conversion and re-conversion, Justice Mohapatra said fake certificates were another major factor that created discontent among Kandha tribals who constitute 52 per cent of Kandhamal's population.

Justice Mohapatra, who submitted the interim report on July 1, said the government should take steps immediately to remove differences between the communities.

"I know it will take at least two years to complete inquiry, but interim report will help the government to make immediate intervention," he said.

Justice Mohapatra said in his 28-page report that most Kandha tribals were uneducated and were under the impression that quotas meant for them were being availed of by 'Pana' dalits, who were Christians.

This was another factor behind tribal anger, he said suggesting the state government expedite freeing of tribal land in possession of non-tribals, take up fake certificate cases and remain vigilant to conversion and re-conversion. Neglect fired up tribals in Kandhamal.

"Once the basic issues are addressed, the Kandhamal problem could be solved," he said.

Replying to a question, Justice Mohapatra said he had not blamed anybody for the violence in the interim report.

Sources, however, said the commission which was set up on September 3 last year could fix responsibility for the violence on any organisation or government body.

In the interim report, Justice Mohapatra had not blamed any religious body or the CPI (Maoist) which claimed responsibility for killing of VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati on August 23 last year.

Killing of Saraswati and four of his associates had triggered large-scale violence in Kandhamal which evoked condemnation from many quarters in the country and abroad.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200907031222.htm

test

Conversion and re-conversion were among the major factors

"Suspicion among the scheduled tribe and scheduled caste inhabitants of Kandhamal is the main cause of riots with the tribals suspecting that 'Pano' dalits were capturing their land through fraudulent means,"

Justice Mohapatra said in his 28-page report that most Kandha tribals were uneducated and were under the impression that quotas meant for them were being availed of by 'Pana' dalits, who were Christians.

That means probs were between tribals and non tribals ..

means 52% of population is uneducated. ... what is government doing 


well everyone knows who was behind these violence and what was there moto... its a one sided report

3 arrested in Laxmanananda murder case

 Debabrata Mohanty
Tags : Laxmanananda murder case
Posted: Tue Oct 07 2008, 00:40 hrs

In a major breakthrough, Orissa’s Criminal Investigation Department on Monday arrested three Christian tribals from Baliguda block in connection with the August 23 murders of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four others at Jalespeta ashram in Kandhamal district. The arrested persons have been identified as Duryodhan Sunamajhi, Munda Badamajhi and Sanatana Badamajhi.

A senior CID official who arrested the trio told The Indian Express on condition of anonymity that two single-barrel muzzle-loader guns and a shirt which could have been used as a mask were also recovered from them. They have been forwarded to a court in Baliguda.

The CID, which is being assisted by the state’s anti-Naxal police force, has found that about seven to eight Maoist hardliners were involved in the murders, while the others who accompanied them were trained in the use of firearms by the rebels. “Some other people lead the group to the ashram and were armed with sharp weapons,” added the official.

The arrests came two days after Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda admitted to a group of mediapersons that Maoist groups in Orissa derived major support from minority communities. During his interview in the forests of Daringibadi block, Panda also claimed that there was pressure from both Christians and Dalits to kill Saraswati. “It is a fact that Christians form the majority in our organisation. Our supporters in Rayagada, Gajapati and Kandhamal also belonged to the Christian community,” he said.

According to him, Saraswati was killed because he did not pay heed when the Maoists’ warned him to put an end to his anti-Christian activities. Panda, however, added that the rebel outfit did not have any religious convictions or allegiances.

CID officials, who have been camping in Kandhamal for more than a month, said they have identified the group that murdered Saraswati. “The group that killed the Swami comprised around 35 people, although the conspiracy was hatched much before by around 100 people in the district. We have identified the Maoists as well as others who are overground. We will arrest some of them very soon,” said the officer.

Meanwhile, the state president of the Hindu Jagaran Samukhya, Ashok Sahu, on Monday lambasted the state Government’s “inaction” in the Saraswati murder. He reiterated his earlier allegations that local church authorities had engineered the attack by hiring Christian Maoists. Sahu alleged that on May 25 this year, 17 people met in a church under G Udaygiri police station where they resolved to kill Saraswati.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/3-arrested-in-laxmanananda-murder-case/370220/2


VHP Press Release says intention of foreign funded Organisations & some NGO establishments to get more funds is the main cause of disturbance in Kandhamal:- http://naxalwatch.funonthenet.com/2008/01/christian-atrocities-in-kandhamal.html