ODISHA BEGS PEACE FROM KUI TRIBE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

ODISHA BEGS PEACE FROM KUI TRIBE BEFORE CHRISTMAS 25/12/2011
ODISHA NEWS:-

The Kandhamal Kui Samaj Samanwaya Samiti (KKSSS), a tribal outfit which had called a four-day district bandh from Saturday, has cut short its earlier decision and decided to observe only a day-long bandh on December 26. The decision of the tribal outfit has brought some relief to the district administration, with the sizeable Christian population in the region gearing up to celebrate Christmas today.


The KSSS had called for Kandhamal bandh from December 24 to 26 for non-fulfilment of its 34-point charter of demands that the chief minister Naveen Patnaik had promised to implement.


“Following the request by the state administration and assurances by senior government officials to fulfil our demands, we have partially called off our bandh call. Instead of four days, we have called for a one-day Kandhamal bandh on December 26. However, we will hold meetings peacefully and observe Martyrs’ Day on December 25 without disturbing other communities. We want that our Christian brothers and sisters observe Christmas with all happiness and fervour,” KSSS president Lambodar Kanhar told the media on Saturday.

Mr Kanhar warned that unless the government considered the demands of Kui Samaj by January 20, the organization would give fresh Kandhamal bandh call on January 25 and 26.


The tribal leaders decided to cut short their earlier decision after a high-level meeting at Phulabani on Friday evening with the RDC, southern division, L N Nayak; DIG of police, southern division, R K Sharma and officials of the district administration.


The tribal outfit has drawn the deadline of January 20 to take action against persons enjoying tribal benefits with the help of fake certificates. The organization has threatened to resume the district bandh on January 25 and 26 if the demand is not fulfilled.


Security has been tightened across the district nevertheless with the deployment of at least 55 platoons of police force and over 50 police officers during the festival.


"We have prepared all security measures to ensure a peaceful Christmas celebration in the district," said a senior police officer. Checking of vehicles has already stared, while night patrolling has been intensified in the district for the Christmas mid-night mass in churches.


The district has witnessed communal riots during this time of the year in the past.

District collector Rajesh Prabhakar Patil and SP J N Pankaj were travelling to various parts of the district to assess the situation. "The situation is normal and we hope Christmas will be peaceful this year," the collector said.


Similar security arrangements have been made in Gajapati district too, which is also home to a large number of Christians, sources said.

SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,
ODISHA