The Orissa government on Saturday placed under suspension two police officials in Kandhamal district in connection with the communal violence in the recent backward district.

Action has been taken against the two officials of Phiringia and Tikabali police stations for negligence of duty during the violence.

A revenue official has also been suspended along with the two officials. The state government late on Friday night had removed the Kandhamal district collector, Bhabagrahi Mohapatra. He has been replaced by Manish Gupta, the collector of another tribal district of Malkangiri.

‘Send more troops’

Though the district has remained incident free for two consecutive days, the state government has decided to continue with the deployment of police and the paramilitary forces in all the affected areas as before.

In fact, the government has requested the Centre to send five more companies of the CRPF to man the troubled district. Four relief camps have been opened where 700 people are housed at present.