VZCZCXRO4283
PP RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHCI #0247/01 2471317
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 031317Z SEP 08
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2111
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2581

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000247 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR DRL (MORALLES) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV IN
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON ORISSA COMMUNAL VIOLENCE 
 
REF: A. A. KOLKATA 245 
     ¶B. B. KOLKATA 239 
     ¶C. C. KOLKATA 238 
 
KOLKATA 00000247  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: The situation in Orissa's Kandhamal district 
still remains tense.  Federal Home Minister Shivraj Patil was 
able to make a spot assessment of the situation in Orissa on 
September 3.  At least 16 people have died in the communal 
clashes which began on August 24 and about 550 houses have been 
destroyed.  Ten relief camps have been set up for the riot 
victims.  On September 3, the Supreme Court of India ordered the 
government of Orissa to explain what steps were taken to contain 
the violence and protect the lives of Christians in Kandhamal. 
End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The situation in Orissa's Kandhamal district still 
remains tense and sporadic violence continues.  Media reports 
two new incidents of arson destroying as much as 80 homes on the 
morning of September 2.  On September 1, Orissa government Chief 
Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy  informed the media that 543 
houses were burned down in Kandhamal district and about 15 
houses had been set ablaze in Gajapati district.  The Chief 
Secretary did not report how many people were killed in the 
communal riot. An official from Orissa's Home department 
informed PolFSN on September 3 that about 16 people have been 
killed.  The President of All Indian Christian Council Rev R.R. 
Parichha and the Acting President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad 
(VHP), Dr. Umesh Patri, told PolFSN that they are not aware of 
any new incidents since September 2. 
 
Government Response 
 
¶3. (SBU) There is widespread criticism of the state's handling 
of the crisis, especially by the Christian Council.  The 
foremost complaint has been the lack of police presence and 
response to the communal riots.  In reports to the media, 
Inspector General of Police, Intelligence, R.P. Singh said that 
only 2,500 personnel from various forces including central 
paramilitary forces were available to combat the violence in 
rural villages spread out across the Kandhamal district.  At the 
request of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of 
Orissa, the Centre has agreed to send 5,500 security personnel 
to help curb the violence. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Media reports that the Orissa state government has 
established ten relief camps for the riot victims.  Shelter with 
free food is provided in Kandhamal, Rayagada and Gajapati 
districts.  These camps house about 12,539 people.  According to 
media reports, Federal Home Minister Shivraj Patil visited the 
area on September 3 to make an assessment.  The junior Federal 
Home Minister Shri Prakash Jaiswal had visited the state last 
week.  On September 3, the Home Ministry summoned Orissa 
Governor Murlidhar Bhandare on September 3 to brief the Centre 
on the law and order situation in Orissa. 
 
Court Intervention 
 
¶5. (SBU) On September 3, the Supreme Court ordered a Central 
Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the violence.  This was 
in response to a petition filed by Cuttack's Archbishop Raphael 
Cheenath.  The court has asked the government of Orissa to 
explain what steps were taken to contain the violence and 
protect the lives of Christians living in the affected areas of 
Kandhamal district.  On August 24, the Orissa government ordered 
a judicial inquiry into the incidents.  Retired Orissa High 
Court judge S.C. Mahapatra is heading the commission.  The 
commission has yet to start work. 
 
Who killed Saraswati? 
 
¶6. (SBU) The government of Orissa continues to assert that 
Maoists killed Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and the other VHP 
activists.  Media sources informed PolFSN that the state 
committee of Maoists from Orissa has sent media outlets a 
message denying involvement in the murders.   Other media 
sources from Bhubaneswar told PolFSN that the Central Committee 
of the Communist Party of India (Maoists) in Delhi claimed 
responsibility for the murders.  A former state general 
Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and present 
Chairman of the State Civil Supplies Corporation told PolFSN 
that many theories are still floating around on who actually 
killed Saraswati and the cloud must be cleared soon to help 
restore a sense of normalcy in the state. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Comment:  Although the scale of violence in Orissa 
seems to have subsided for the moment, tensions still simmer 
between the Christian and the Hindu communities and sporadic 
outbreaks of violence continue.  With an additional 5,500 
federal forces being deployed in the state, the scale of 
violence is likely to come down but establishment of communal 
harmony will be difficult.  An unbiased inquiry into the 
 
KOLKATA 00000247  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
incident and its report could play a major role in restoring 
confidence between the two affected communities.  End Comment. 
PAYNE