Balangir arson: BJP Morcha to move panel on SCs

BHUBANESWAR: The Scheduled Castes Morcha of the BJP will petition PL Punia, Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, during his Balangir visit regarding the recent arson incident in the district. Presiding over a meeting of State functionaries of the Morcha, former MLA Baidhar Mallick condemned the January 22 incident in which houses of 50 Dalit families were set afire allegedly by upper caste people. The meeting slammed the district administration for not coming to the rescue of the victims. The meet decided to submit a memorandum to Punia against the State Government during his Sunday visit to Lathore village, the scene of the fiery act, said Morcha general secretary Kunjabihari Sethi. The Morcha has demanded arrest of the culprits and adequate compensation to the affected families. It has further demanded housing assistance under IAY to all the affected families and long-term loans to them from Orissa State Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Finance Cooperative Corporation.  BJP vice-president Bimbadhar Kuanr was present.