KalingaTimes Correspondent
Phulbani/Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: Curfew was imposed in Brahmanigaon, Baliguda, Daringibadi and Phulbani areas in Kandhamal district of Orissa on Tuesday evening as communal clashes of caste and religious tints during the day marred the Christmas celebrations in the region.

As the violence claimed one life, at least four churches were damaged by angry mob in the district. The houses of Steel and Mines Minister Padmanabha Behera were also targeted and a police station at Tikabali was burnt. At least 20 persons were injured in different incidents of violence since Monday night, sources said.

It was a day of communal rallies and demonstrations in the district that experience two simultaneous bandhs called by two different organisations. The tribals owing allegiance to Kui Samaj had earlier given the call for a 36 hour bandh starting from Christmas morning.

The activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad observed a bandh in protest leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati on Monday.

Traffic was badly hit in most areas of the district during the day as road were blocked by cutting down the tree on Monday night. This prevented policemen from reaching sensitive areas on time. Normal life was badly affected by the bandh throughout the day.

A Kui tribal was killed when a stone hit him at Barakhama near Baliguda. He was part of a tribal rally and was caught in the middle stone pelting between Sangh and Church supporters.

The VHP supporters allegedly damaged the churches at Barakhama, Baliguda, Pabingia and Masripada. Many vehicles belonging to Christian organisations were also damaged at Daringibadi and Phulbani.

While senior police officials were monitoring the situation additional forces were being deployed in sensitive pockets to prevent further clashes, police said.

In Bhubaneswar , the Opposition parties criticised the Naveen Patnaik Government for its failure to control the situation in Kandhamal district.

Instead of mobilising the administration and police to deal with the situation, the alliance government had engaged them to make the Biju Janata Dal rally a success in Bhubaneswar , the parties alleged.