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Riots Till now a very few knew about Kandhamal district of Orissa. But communal clashes between Christians and Hindu have brought it into fame all over the world just in a week. More than 15 persons mostly Christians, have died in the communal clashes that erupted after the murder of the RSS leader in the Kandhamal district of Orissa. State government imposed curfew in the district to prevent the more incidents from happening but till then communal clashes had spread to the other parts of the state. Government succeeded to bring the situation only in the urban areas by imposing curfew but situation in the remote rural areas kept on deteriorating day by day. Many churches were damaged and burnt by the Hindu rioters. Thousands of Christians flee from their homes. Rioters did not spare even the handicapped persons. They burnt alive some Christians along with their homes. Displaced and afraid people had to remain hidden in forests and hills without food and cover over their heads for many days.

Politics Many questions have arisen after the Orissa incidents. Clashes between Christians and Hindus are not new in the state of Orissa. And religion is not only the reason behind the clashes. There are some local tribes who have either become Christians or Hindus but their rivalries have not ended. Religious support has only deepened the rivalry. State is being ruled by the NDA alliance and the Center government was waiting to see the situation deteriorating. Deterioration of law and order could have provided enough ground to the UPA alliance to criticize the NDA alliance. It was only happy by sending the “ball into President’s court.”

State Government State government totally failed to foresee the situation. Even the district administration failed to provide adequate security to the deceased RSS leaded who had informed the administration about the death threat letter to him. State government did not take adequate steps to defuse the situation even after the murder of the RSS leader. Some hardliner Hindu leaders were allowed to move free which deteriorated the situation.