urfew was clamped in four major towns of Orissa's
Kandhamala district on Tuesday after one person was killed and at least
24 others injured during a VHP-sponsored bandh. The meeting was called
to protest the alleged attack on an anti-conversion leader. "Following
large-scale violence, we have imposed curfew in the district
headquarters town of Phulbani, Baliguda, Daringibadi and Brahmanigaon
to prevent further flare up", said Revenue Divisional Commissioner
(southern division) Satyabrata Sahu. Expressing concern over the
violence on Christmas day, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik appealed to
the people to maintain peace and communal harmony. A youth was
killed in mob violence at Barakhamba, a senior police officer said,
adding that he was yet to be identified. The details of the incident
are not known yet. "The situation is tense but under control. We are keeping a close watch," the official said. At
least six churches were set on fire in Orissa's Kandhamal district, in
a backlash to the attack on an anti-conversion movement leader on
Monday. Six churches, mostly built in thatched houses, were
either ransacked or the vacant premises set on fire since last night as
tension built up in the area, Revenue Divisional Commissioner
Satyabrata Sahu told PTI. Unconfirmed reports said 12 churches
were targeted by vandals since last night, and additional forces
deployed in sensitive pockets of the district. Of the total 6.50 lakh
Population in the district, more than one lakh belong to the Christian
community. The violence, which began at Brahmanigaon village
under Daringbadi area on Monday, gradually spread to other parts of the
district with unidentified persons attacking two houses of state's
Steel and Mines minister Padmanabha Behera at Phiringia and Nuapadar
villages. While three churches were set on fire at Baliguda last
night, three others were burnt today at different villages under
Nuagaon block, official sources said. Similarly, churches at Chakapada, Giringia and Phiring
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