India Culture, Business, Sports and Food. Get all the buzz in India now

Riots After the killing of a Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Laxmananand Saraswati and four of his disciples  by the Naxals in the Kandhamal district of Orissa communal violence has spread into the state. VHP, RSS and many other radical Hindu organizations had  given a band call for Monday .There activists forced the people to support their move. During the band, Christian community was at the receiving end following which  violent mobs have burnt more than a dozen churches and have damaged many Christian homes and orphanages. Five persons including a 20 year old girl and a paralyzed man were burnt to death by the violent saffron activists in a backlash to the killing of the VHP leader. Communal clashes continued even on Thursday and death toll had risen to 10 as some more dead bodies were recovered from the remote areas.

Realities Situation in almost half of the blocks of the Kandhamal district had improved though the tension still prevails in these areas. Despite curfew and shoot orders violence incidents have been reported from some remote areas. Situation is worse in the remote villages. According to the reports Christians have fled from some villages and are hiding in forests and hills even without food and cover over their heads. Continuous rains have adder more to their woes. State has the history of communal riots . Recently, in December state had witnessed the communal riots.

Reasons Reasons of whole of the crisis are political, economic as well as religious. These riots should not be viewed as riots between two communities but as a battle for supremacy. Problem started when backward sections embraced Christianity to get financial benefits. A battle was already going between two tribal for the acquisition of land. Entry of Christian missionaries and Sangh Parivar outfits aggravated the situation. The competition for economic sources took religious colors. Government policies of reservation and change in it added more fuel to the fire. A particular community took it as aimed at marginalizing their economic benefits. Religious conversion and reconversion have brought both of the communities against each other. Competition between tribal Kundas and Panas for economic resources have become the battle for supremacy between two communities. It can expand in other areas of the country that will become a big threat to the unity of the nation in long term.