Bhubaneswar: The Orissa government has decided to close the last relief camp for communal riot victims in the state's Kandhamal district by the end of August and send the people back to their villages, an official said.
"Almost all the relief camps have been closed. Only one in Tiangia is running where 507 people are staying. We will ensure safe return of the inhabitants of the camp to their homes. They will return home by the end of this month," Chief Secretary Ajit Tripathy said.
As many as 38 people were killed in violence in Kandhamal following the murder of Hindu right wing leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides.
More than 25,000 Christians were forced to flee their homes after their houses were attacked by rampaging mobs, who held them responsible for Saraswati's killing although the police blamed Maoist rebels. The Maoists later owned the killings.
No violence has been reported from the district since October last year.
Comments
0 comment