1 more killed in kandhamal

There seems to be no end to communal violence in Kandhmal. On Saturday, a 75-year-old tribal was found murdered in the strife-torn Raikia area. He was idenitified as Krushna Pradhan.

The murder however, coincided with the crime branch of the Orissa Police arresting three more accused in the alleged rape of a Catholic nun, taking the number of those nabbed in the August 25 incident to eight. The alleged victim remains elusive, though.

The latest murder, officials suspect, could have its genesis in the ongoing ethno-communal discord in the district, but nothing had been ascertained till reports last came in. "We don t know the murderer or the reason of murder. We are trying to verify facts," a senior police officer said.

Raikia has witnessed more than 15 murders since violence broke out in the last week of August following the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati. Kandhamal had not reported any major violence during the past 10 days, but Saturday's development has come as a setback for the ongoing efforts to restore peace in the troubled zone. On the otherhand total number of deaths in Kandhamal violence has reached 38according to government reports. But un-officilally it is way ahead and could touch 100 figure.