India: 6 women injured in lathi-charge

September 5, 2008 – (The Hindu) Six persons were injured when police lathi-charged a large group of women who came seeking relief from the government in Tikabali area of strife-torn Kandhamal district of Orissa on Thursday.

The women, belonging to the majority community, gathered near a relief camp during Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Manmohan Samal’s visit to the place.

They demanded that they should be provided work or food at the relief camp as they were not getting any work since communal violence broke out after the killing of VHP leader Swami Lakshmanananda on August 23.

The injured women were admitted to the government hospital at Phulbani.

After the lathi-charge, the agitated women blocked the Tikabali-Phulbani Road to highlight their demands. They left after assurances by senior administration officials.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told presspersons here that the law and order situation in Kandhamal and other violence-affected areas was under control.

Mr. Patnaik, who reviewed the reviewed the law and order situation at a high level meeting, said that more forces would be sent to Kandhamal to restore peace. More relief materials would also be sent to Kandhamal, he added.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Wednesday visited Tiangia village, where four persons were killed in the communal violence. He also visited one of the relief camps and spoke to affected people.

Mr. Patil told journalists here that the State government should take all measures to help people cope with the post-violence situation. He found a sense of fear dominating the minds of the riot-hit people in Kandhamal, he said.

He promised all possible help from the Central government to restore peace in Kandhamal.

Function planned

Meanwhile, the VHP and its allies have started making arrangements for a meeting here on Saturday to pay tributes to the slain Swami. They will hold a similar function at the Chakapad ashram in Kandhamal the next day.

From:http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/05/stories/2008090553311300.htm