At last the Orissa govt. has decided to act for the major cause of tribals.

The non-tribals holding tribal lands in the scheduled areas of the state will be evicted. The state revenue and disaster management department has issued instructions in this regard to the district collectors and sub-collectors in the scheduled areas. The districts, where the problem of grabbing of tribal land by non-tribals is rampant, include Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Raygada, Gajapati, Nawarangapur, Sundergarh, Mayurbhanja, Keonjhar.

Besides, some areas in the Balasore (Nilagiri) and Sambalpur district (Kuchinda) are also included in the scheduled areas.

New Delhi, Oct 13 : Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that the recent incidents of violence in the State were a manifestation of the "conflict of interest" between Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, at the National Integration Council (NIC) meeting here on Monday.

While referring to two incidents of communal violence in Kandhamal, Patnaik said there were clashes between members of SC and ST communities in the past due to conflict of interest in matters of land rights, employment opportunities and religion.

New Delhi, Oct. 13 : India, the world’s most populous democracy and officially a secular nation, is today haunted by a stark assault on one of its fundamental freedoms.

In Orissa, which has been riven by six weeks of religious clashes, Christian families like the Digals say they are being forced to abandon their faith in exchange for their safety.

A New York Times report says that these forced conversions come amid widening attacks on Christians here and in at least five other states across the country, as India prepares for national elections next spring.

New Delhi, Oct 11 : Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today criticised a reported move by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government to consider imposing President''s rule in his state.

Referring to a demand by opposition parties for dismissal of his government, the 62-year-old Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader said, "It is totally unjustified and politically motivated."

"My government is doing its best to bring the situation under control," he added.

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 8 : Orissa Police on Wednesday confirmed that they had arrested the prime accused in the alleged rape of a young nun during the anti-Christian attacks in Kandhamal District.

Somanath Pradhan of Rajaghar village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Baliguda police station in Kandhamal district, was arrested yesterday. State police officials said that so far five persons have been nabbed.

New Delhi, Oct. 8 : The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has decided to inquire into the recent attacks on Christians in various parts of the country.

A full-fledged team of the Commission chaired by NCSC Chairman Buta Singh will visit Orissa on October 17 and 18 to inquire into the whole episode.

The team will visit the worst affected Kandhamal District and adjoining areas to assess the situation. NCSC members will also hold meetings with the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and the police chief of the state.