Bhubaneswar: Shoot at sight order was issued in many areas of Orissa's Kandhamal district on Wednesday as large number of people defied curfew at several places and indulged in arson, official sources said.
"We have issued shoot at sight order in the wake of large scale violence in some curfew bound areas of Kandhamal district," said Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Southern division,Satyabrata Sahu.
The order was issued after a large number of people armed with sticks and crude weapons defied curfew restrictions and indulged in arson and violence in several places between Baliguda and Udaygiri, he said.
Widespread violence also took place in Raikia area where two persons were critically injured in an attack by a mob, said Sahu, who has been camping in the communally sensitive district.
Residence of former Director General of Police John Nayak was attacked by a mob at Raikia, he said adding that the administration has received information about a large number of families from Raikia taking shelter in forest areas.
A pregnant woman, whose husband works in Bhubaneswar, has also fled to forest along with some family members, her relatives said.
Though unconfirmed reports put the toll at 14, officials confirmed nine deaths in the violence after the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati on Saturday night at Jalespeta in Tumudibandh.
Archbishop, Mumbai and President of All India Christian Council Association Cardinal Oswald Gracias said, “All Christian Educational Institutions (school & colleges) to shut down on Friday to protest against the killings of Christians in Orissa."
He also stated that it was not a strike. It was an expression of solidarity, a symbol of protest against the killings. The church has nothing to do with this and that terrorism and violence is against any teaching of ours.
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