Orissa violence : SC to look into demand for CBI probe

The Supreme Court will hear on Wednesday, a petition filed by Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack demanding a CBI inquiry into Kandhmal violence. When senior advocate Colin Gonzalves mentioned the matter before the Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, the Chief Justice asked the petitioner to move to the Orissa High Court. The petitioner however contended before the court that it is not possible as he feels there is a treat to his life there.

The Additional solicitor General of India Gopal Subramanium intervened in the matter saying that the matter should be heard on Wednesday. He also assured the court that he will speak to the home secretary and appraise the court about the situation in Kandhmal. After hearing the arguments from both the sides, the Chief Justice listed the matter for hearing on Wednesday.

According to the petition, the situation in Kandhmal is tense and paramilitary forces should immediately be sent to the affected areas where more than 4000 villages have been burnt. The petition alleges that Orissa government has failed to maintain law and order situation in Kandhmal. The petition also accused the state government of turning a blind eye to human rights violation in the state after the brutal killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati. According to the petition, although, Union Government has sent RAF and CRPF, the state government is not taking the forces to the affected areas.

The petition which would be taken up for hearing on Wednesday, demands that adequate police force should be deployed in places where violence is taking place. The petition also demanded that CBI inquiry should be initiated to probe into the violence. NHRC should also be directed to see which are the political organisations and who are the persons spearheading the violent activities.

The petitioner also demanded that a compensation of Rupees four lakhs should be paid to those whose houses have been fully destroyed and a compensation of Rupees two lakhs should be paid to those whose houses have been destroyed partially.