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Create an environment of security: Patil

Special Correspondent

— Photo: ParvatHi Menon

Nowhere to go: Victims of the communal violence in Kandhamal at a relief camp at Phulbani.

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Friday asked Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to implement a “strategy for creating an environment of security and confidence among all sections of the people.”

In a letter, Mr. Patil said some components of such a long-time strategy could be apprehending the trouble-makers and miscreants and strengthening the capabilities of the State police force. He asked why the State government could not raise all the five India Reserve (IR) battalions already sanctioned by the Centre. It had raised just one battalion.

The Home Secretary had already written to the Chief Secretary, asking the State government to firmly put down incidents of lawlessness in the State.

The Home Minister reminded the Orissa government that the Centre had been providing para-military forces since December 2007 when tension flared up in Kandhamal for the first time. Apart from 24 companies devoted to anti-naxalite operations, the State government had been given 53 more companies to control the violence targeting the minority community.

Mr. Patil said the Centre had “limitations” in providing para-military forces as there were other internal security commitments ranging from Jammu and Kashmir to the North-East and naxalite activities. He said Central forces were provided for “short duration” for aiding the State police force in law and order duties. He also pointed out that the MI-17 helicopter given to the State government for transportation of troops and evacuation of casualties was used only for reconnaissance.

“The Cabinet took note of the latest situation prevailing in Orissa and Karnataka and the Home Minister was asked by the Prime Minister to apprise the Cabinet of the situation at its next meeting,” Information and Broadcasting Minister P.R. Dasmunsi told reporters.

Criminal negligence, says Brinda Karat

R. Ilangovan reports from Namakkal, Tamil Nadu:

Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat said it was ‘criminal negligence’ for Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik not to initiate action in the case of rape of a nun and the burning of a disabled boy in Kandhamal district.

Ms. Karat told The Hindu that she met Mr. Patnaik on August 29, when he told her that he was “very well aware” of the two crimes and their details. “He assured me of stern action against the perpetrators of the inhuman acts as early as possible.”

She was here to attend the three-day State conference of the Tamil Nadu Tribal Association.

“Perplexing”

She said the Chief Minister’s reluctance to take action was perplexing. She came to know of these violent incidents when she visited Orissa in August.

The Christian community narrated the acts of inhuman violence against the nun and also the painful death of the disabled boy. “I met the brother of the deceased boy, but I could not meet the nun, who had by then left the place. With details I met the Chief Minister and urged him to take action. But he is yet to react.”

She accused the Centre of being ‘soft’ on Sangh Parivar outfits, such as the Bajrang Dal, reportedly behind the crimes against Christians in Orissa.

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