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PHULBANI (KANDHAMAL DISTRICT): Moved by the
plight of violence affected families living in tented
accommodation in three relief camps here since last
August, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Friday
apologised “for certain wrong happenings of last year.”
Offering full protection to them, he urged them to
return to their villages and resume normal lives.
Eight
to 10 village panchayats were affec ted when groups
claiming allegiance to extremist Hindu organisations
went on the rampage targeting Dalit and tribal
Christians. The attacks were a fall out of the killing
of Swami Laxmanand Saraswati.
Mr.
Chidambaram took considerable effort to convince the
people to go back to their villages; at the Mandakia
camp, he even gave his official phone numbers, asking
them to contact him freely in case they feared for their
safety. “Go back to your villages, build your homes and
churches and practise your religion without any fear. I
am assuring you of full security,” he told them.
Many
people complained that several “criminal elements” were
roaming free and threatening them, asking them to
convert to Hinduism.
At the
Tikabali relief camp, he said: “Christians are living
everywhere in the country. I went to a Christian school
and a Christian college. We will protect you, you are
all citizens of India, do not fear, fear is your worst
enemy. Be brave, resume your normal life, send your
children to schools.
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