Churches ransacked in Orissa India as Leader Laxmanananda Saraswati attacked

Bhubaneswar, Dec 25 .. Four churches were damaged in tribal dominated Kandhamal district of Orissa, India by angry mob in the district.

Curfew was imposed in Brahmanigaon, Baliguda, Daringibadi and Phulbani areas in Kandhamal district of Orissa on Tuesday evening as communal clashes of caste and religious.

At least 12 vehicles, including two police jeeps, today during a VHP sponsored four-hour Orissa bandh which evoked partial response, dampening Christmas festivities.

Violence broke out at other towns of Kandhamal district as saffron activists ransacked three churches in Baliguda area disrupting Christmas festivities with bandh supporters picketing outside chapels, police said.

Trains were delayed and vehicular movement hit as bandh supporters blocked railway tracks and highways in Cuttack, Balasore, Bhubaneswar and Bhadrak.

Market,shops and business centres remained open and road traffic was normal in most places.

Right wing activists of VHP and Bajrang Dal blocked traffic in many areas moved in groups to enforce the bandh called in protest against the attack on anti-conversion leader Laxmanananda Saraswati yesterday, police said.

Thirteen people were taken into custody in connection with the attack on Saraswati, Inspector General of Police (special armed police) Pradeep Kapur said.

The VHP supporters allegedly damaged the churches at Barakhama, Baliguda, Pabingia and Masripada.

The houses of Steel and Mines Minister Padmanabha Behera were also targeted and a police station at Tikabali was burnt. Twenty persons were injured in different incidents of violence since Monday night, sources said.

Seven others were detained in connection with a clash between two groups over erection of a decorated arch at Brahmani village of Daringbadi area, also in Kandhamal district, that had left eight people injured. PTI,Kalinga