Author: PTI
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: July 3, 2009.
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/186737/Conversion-reconversion-led-to-Kandhamal-riots-Commission.html
Conversion and re-conversion were among the
major factors which led to the riots in Orissa's Kandhamal district last year,
a judicial commission probing the violence has said.
"Sources of the violence were deeply
rooted in land disputes, conversion and re-conversion and fake certificateissues,"
Justice S C Mohapatra, heading the one-man panel, said in his interim report
on the violence in Kandhamal which claimed 43 lives besides damaging many
houses and churches.
He, however, did not elaborate on the conversions
and reconversions issue.
"Suspicion among the scheduled tribe
and scheduled caste inhabitants of Kandhamal is the main cause of riots with
the tribals suspecting that 'Pano' dalits were capturing their land through
fraudulent means," Justice Mohapatra said.
Besides the issues of land and conversion
and re-conversion, Justice Mohapatra said fake certificates were
another major factor that created discontent among Kandha tribals who constitute
52 per cent of Kandhamal's population.
Justice Mohapatra, who submitted the interim
report on July 1, said the government should take steps immediately to remove
differences between the communities.
"I know it will take at least two years
to complete inquiry, but interim report will help the government to make immediate
intervention," he said.
Justice Mohapatra said in his 28-page report
that most Kandha tribals were uneducated and were under the impression that
quotas meant for them were being availed of by 'Pana' dalits, who were Christians.
This was another factor behind tribal anger,
he said suggesting the state government expedite freeing of triballand in
possession of non-tribals, take up fake certificate cases and remain vigilant
to conversion and re-conversion.
"Once the basic issues are addressed,
the Kandhamal problem could be solved," he said.
Replying to a question, Justice Mohapatra
said he had not blamed anybody for the violence in the interim report.
Sources, however, said the commission which
was set up on September 3 last year could fix responsibility for the violence
on any organisation or government body.
In the interim report, Justice Mohapatra had
not blamed any religious body or the CPI (Maoist) which claimed responsibility
for killing of VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati on August 23 last year.
Killing of Saraswati and four of his associates
had triggered large-scale violence in Kandhamal which evoked condemnation
from many quarters in the country and abroad.
