SC orders more compensation to 2008 Kandhamal Riots victims

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Odisha government to give additional compensation to 2008 Kandhamal communal riot victims who suffered heavy losses in the communal strife. The Supreme Court ruled that the compensation given to 2008 Kandhamal communal riot victims was not adequate.

It is to be noted that, the riots broke out following the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxamananda Saraswati on August 23, 2008 at Jalespata Ashram. The killing had sparked off large scale violence in Kandhamal and other parts of Odisha.

About 38 people were killed and hundreds of houses burnt in the violence that raged for about two months in Kandhamal.