KalingaTimes Correspondent
Bhubaneswar, Aug 27: Even as several incidents of violence were reported from different parts of Kandhamal district on Wednesday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik claimed that the situation was under control.

Making a statement on the developments on the law and order front in the state Assembly in the evening, Patnaik informed that as many as 70 criminal cases had been registered in different parts of the state in connection with the violence that was triggered by the killing of VHP leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati. A total of 54 persons had been arrested.

Patnaik informed the House that curfew was in force in Phulbani town, Baliguda, Tumudibandha, Barakhama, Raikia, G. Udayagiri, Daringibadi and Tikabali. Prohibitory orders were in force throughout Kandhamal district, he added.

The Chief Minister further claimed that Peace Committee meetings had been held in troubled areas.

He said that as per the latest report a total of nine persons had been killed in various incidents in the aftermath of the murder of Lakshmanananda throughout the state.

However, unconfirmed reports put the death toll by Wednesday evening at 15, including 13 in Kandhamal, one in Bargarh and one in Gajapati district.

As the situation remained unchanged in Kandhamal, the Chief Minister warned that strict action will be taken against all those who take law into their own hands.

Interestingly, Patnaik claimed that the situation was under control hours after Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal said the situation in Kandhamal was out of control.

Jaiswal, who came here with a plan to visit Kandhamal, was advised not to go to the region as the situation was yet to be brought under control.

In fact, Patnaik claimed the situation was under control while informing the Assembly that Chief Secretary and Home Secretary of the state were in close touch with the Union Home Ministry for deployment of additional Central paramilitary forces.