While the first judicial commission probing the 2007 riot had so far recorded statements of 173 witnesses, the second commission headed by justice SC Mohapatra examined 60 witnesses.
Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik today said that two judicial commissions had been set up to hear the Kandhamal riot cases that rocked the district in December 2007 and again in August 2008.
While the first judicial commission probing the 2007 riot had so far recorded statements of 173 witnesses, the second commission headed by justice SC Mohapatra examined 60 witnesses, Patnaik told the assembly.
As investigations by the two commissions were not complete, Patnaik said the state government had extended their tenure.
The state government was providing support and assistance to the commissions for a thorough probe into the incidents which led to communal clashes in Kandhamal.
Patnaik had earlier on July 19 told the House that 132 persons had so far been convicted in riot related cases.
Stating that 38 persons were killed in the riots, the chief minister had said that two fast track courts were hearing the cases.
Meanwhile, seeking establishment of a special court to hear the riot cases and a CBI inquiry, a section of riot victims today demonstrated before the Orissa assembly.
The riot victims under the banner of 'Kuidina Forum for Peace and Justice', marched on Mahatma Gandhi Marg holding placards demanding a CBI probe into the violence and also a special court as applicable for disturbed areas before submitting a memorandum to governor MC Bhandare.
They alleged in the memorandum that the real culprits who led the violence, provided explosives, arms and weapons to rioters, were yet to be arrested.
"The real culprits are moving about freely and terrorising the people. Therefore, many victims have failed to return to their villages even 22 months after violence that took place after killing of VHP leader Laxamananda Saraswati," Keshamatu Pradhan, co-convenor of the forum, said.
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