New Delhi (PTI): A prominent Muslim organisation on Thursday condemned the violence against minorities in Orissa and demanded the government to take steps to maintain peace and order in the state.

"The act of killing innocent children and women, burning places of worship, orphanage and property showed the terrorist and unlawful mentality," Nusrat Ali, Secretary General Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, said in a statement here.

He said it was the responsibility of the state government to end violence there.

Expressing sympathy and solidarity with the families of the victims, Ali also asked the government to arrest the "real culprits" behind the murder of the VHP leader which led to violence against minorities in Orissa.