New Delhi, Sept 2 : The Archbishop of Cuttack today filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe into violence against the Christians in Orissa.

The petition also sought the involvement of the National Human Rights Commissions (NHRC) to conduct a probe and find out as to which organisation was behind the Kandhamal violence.

Senior Advocate Collin Gonsalves informed about the filing of the petition to a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, which agreed to hear the matter later in the day.

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.”

New Delhi, Sep 1 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today assured a delegation led by former Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy that the Central government has taken very serious notice of the happenings in Orissa.

Dr. Singh said that he has personally spoken to the Orissa’s Chief Minister Navin Patnaik to ensure communal harmony and bring to book the culprits behind the violent incidents.

The Prime Minister mentioned that the Orissa Chief Minister has assured firm action in the matter.

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.

Jalsapeta (Orissa), Sep 1: Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has offered floral tribute to VHP leader Laxamananda Saraswati, who was killed by a mob recently.

Patnaik visited a religious home established by Swami Lakshmananda at Jalsapeta village in Kandhamal district on Sunday, where he and four others were killed by a group of 30 heavily armed men.

Patnaik said the Central Government has assured more forces to quell communal clashes.

"I spoke to the Union Home Minister and asked him to send ten companies of force. I have been informed that the situation in Jeypore of Koraput district is now under control. Forces have been sent there and more forces will be sent to Jeypore town," he said.

Bhubaneshwar/Bangalore, Aug 30: Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has claimed that the situation is improving in Orissa's Kandhamal District, which was gripped by religious violence following the killing of VHP leader Laxamananda Saraswati.

Patnaik, who will visit the district today, said: "The situation in Kandhamal district is returning to normal."

The visit comes as the Central Government has indicated that it favours a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the violence that claimed at least ten lives.