Bhubaneswar, Sep 2 : Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday termed the communal riots following the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, as an unfortunate incident.

Stating that the people of the state had a long record of being peaceful, secular and tolerant to all faiths, Patnaik told reporters the riots were “an unfortunate occurrence during the eight-and-a-half years of my government.”

Bhubaneswar, Sep 1 : The Orissa Government today said that over 558 houses and 17 places of worship have been burnt in communal riots following the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati''s on August 23.

The government further claimed that the situation in Kandhamal and elsewhere in Orissa was under control.

After a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy said, “While 543 houses were burnt in the worst hit Kandhamal district,
15 houses had been set ablaze in Gajapati district.”

Bhubaneswar, Sep 1 : Orissa is limping back to normalcy as all academic institutions are opened on Monday in the Phulbani sub-division of the state’s communally sensitive Kandhamal District.

In the Baliguda sub-division, schools and colleges are expected to start after two to three days.

According to official sources, the deployment of eleven companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), three companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and 26 platoons of the State Armed Police would continue to infuse confidence among the public. Two helicopters are also being sent by the Centre to assist in force mobilisation and relief operations.

Bhubaneswar, Aug 28 : Violence continued unabated on Thursday in Kandhamal District of Orissa for the fifth day inspite of the shoot-at-sight order imposed in eight blocks of the communally sensitive district.

The latest outbreak of violence was reported from remote places of Tikabali and G Udaygiri where the police have failed to reach.

Earlier, incidents were reported from Sundergarh, Rayagada, Gajapati and Bolangir districts.

In a backlash to the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati and four others on Saturday night, the violence has claimed ten lives in Orissa so far.

Bhubaneswar, Aug 27 : Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal on Wednesday said he would review why the violence in Kandhmal District of Orissa could not be contained so far.

After arriving here for assessing the situation in the communally sensitive district, Jaiswal said: "There is no sign of violence subsiding in Kandhmal even though three days have passed since the killing of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati."

He further said both Prime Minister and Home Minister are worried over the situation at Kandhamal and the Centre is ready to rush more forces to bring the situation under control

Bhubaneswar, Aug 25 : The 12-hour shutdown called by Vishwa Hindu Parishad affected normal life in Orissa, but, remained by and large peaceful.

Enforcing the statewide shutdown in protest against the killing of VHP leader Swami Lakshmanananda and four of his disciples, activists of the VHP, the Bajrang Dal and other Hindu outfits took to the streets blocking all national and state highways in almost all parts of the state since morning bringing vehicular traffic to a halt.