More Christian homes set ablaze

Bhubaneswar: Tension continued in Orissa's volatile Kandhamal district on Thursday after more houses owned by Christians were set on fire and hundreds of people clashed with police and blocked roads.

Officials said clashes broke out Wednesday night after police tried to prevent mobs from torching Christian homes.

"Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel chased away the people who were trying to set houses on fire in Daringbadi block but some houses were damaged Wednesday night. The situation in the region is tense," District Collector Krishan Kumar said.

Oriya daily Sambad reported that the mob burnt at least a dozen houses as well as a church and a prayer house in villages under Daringbadi block.

On Wednesday, people had also blocked several roads with wooden logs to protest the killing of a person in police firing in Raikia town, about 280km from here.