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In a
major development, the last batch of Central forces
deployed in the trouble-torn Kandhamal district was
withdrawn on 1 June 2009, According to Kandhamal
district collector Krishan Kumar.
The last batch of four companies of CRPF (400 personnel)
deployed in Raikia and G. Udayagiri finally moved out of
the district on Wednesday.
Rakia and G Udayagir were the worst-hit in the last
year's sectarian violence in the district. "With the
Wednesday's CRPF withdrawal, the pull out exercise of
all the Central forces deployed in the district was
completed," Mr Kumar said.
At least 52 companies of CRPF were deployed in the
district after riots broke out following the killing
Swami Laxmananand Saraswati, a noted Hindu seer, on
August 23 last year. As many as 48 companies of para-military
forces had already been withdrawn in phases in the last
few months as the district slowly limped back to
normalcy, the collector informed, adding, the Central
forces had been replaced by Orissa State Armed Police
force in sensitive areas of the district.
Around 300 people, meanwhile, on Wednesday left the
relief camps opened at three places in the district to
give shelter to the riot-affected families, for their
villages. There are about 1,200 people still living in
the relief camps.
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