Click to play videoKandhamal: The withdrawal of the Orissa bandh called by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on the Christmas Day might have given a lot of relief to all the Christians across the state. But many people especially the communal riot victims in Kandhamal are too scared to celebrate Christmas this year.
Even the churches in Kandhamal have been asked by the district authorities to avoid holding midnight mass.
Arvind Kumar, 20-year-old college student, used to take pride in leading this local musical band but this Christmas he is not sure whether he will be able to do that.
This is exactly the dilemma for most of the Christians in Kandhamal. Almost all the churches damaged in the communal violence are yet to be repaired.
“We want to celebrate Christmas but the situation is not normal enough to do that. Many victims have still not recovered from the shock. So even if we celebrate it will be low key affair,” says Arvind.
Thousands of victims are still in the relief camps and for this Christmas they can only offer prayers.
“We are very scared to even stay in our villages. It is only because of the CRPF that we are alive. Once they leave we will be forced to leave our villages,” says a riot victim Janaki Ballav.
It was a great relief after VHP withdrew the Orissa bandh on the Christmas. The bandh was called to demand the arrests of the killers of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati. But the district authorities are not taking any chances; additional forces have been deployed in the district.
“All preventive measures are taken. All vehicles coming from outside are thoroughly checked. Peace committees are formed from both the communities to maintain peace. We are hopeful that Christmas will pass off peacefully,” says SP Kandhamal Praveen Kumar.
Meanwhile Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has also spoken to the Chief Minister of Orissa to get assurance on the situation in Kandhamal.
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