Bhubaneshwar: Shoot at sight was ordered in Orissas curfew bound Kandhamal on Wednesday to contain unabated violence which has claimed nine lives in the state so far following the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati on Saturday night.

As the situation appeared to be slipping out of control, Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal arrived here to review the situation in riot-hit Kandhamal in the wake of the killing.

"We have issued shoot at sight order following large scale violence and rioting in some curfew bound areas of Kandhamal district," Revenue Divisional Commissioner, southern division, Satyabrata Sahu said.

The authorities issued the order after a large number of unruly people armed with sticks and crude weapons defied curfew restrictions and indulged in arson and violence at several places between Baliguda and Udaygiri, he said.

Widespread violence also took place in Raikia area where two persons were critically injured in an attack by a mob, said Sahu, who has been camping in the district.

Residence of a former state police chief was attacked by a mob at Raikia, he said adding there was information about a large number of families from Raikia fleeing to forests.

Though unconfirmed reports put the toll at 14,officials confirmed nine deaths in violence after the killing of Saraswati at Jalespeta in Tumudibandh.

While curfew continued in about half-a-dozen towns in Kandhamal, prohibitory orders under section 144 were in force in entire district, he said.

Meanwhile, irked by the killing of Saraswati, some BJP MLAs and ministers have impressed upon their central leadership that the party should withdraw from the coalition government in Orissa.

They have also demanded withdrawal of central para-military forces from Kandhamal alleging the security personnel were used against Hindus.

The state assembly was also disrupted over the issue with the opposition accusing the BJD-BJP coalition government of failing to bring the situation under control in Kandhamal.

Congress has demanded resignation of the government and immediate intervention of the governor.

Rural and inaccessible areas of Kandhmal were witnessing violence as obstacles like logs and boulders were placed on
roads in a bid to prevent security force from moving to the troubled areas, police said.

"Though tension prevails in Kandhamal, the situation is improving gradually in some areas. Security personnel have entered the inaccessible areas by removing obstacles," DIG of Police R P Koche said.

Several roads including that connecting Raikia and Udaygiri have been cleared, facilitating speedy and smooth force movement, he said, adding that the situation in towns and urban centres came under control, while remote and rural areas still remained trouble-prone.

To further step up security, 12 platoons of Orissa State Armed Police were requisitioned for deployment in tension-hit areas, Sahu said, adding the district was made a no entry zone to prevent outside elements from entering.

Panicked by violence, many people from Raikia, Rupagaon, Chakappada, Tikabali and Tumudibandh have fled and took shelter in forests, sources said.

Source : DNA