Tiangia (Orissa) (PTI): Empty lanes, burnt houses and churches greeted Home Minister Shivraj Patil as he visited this nondescript village in Orissa's Kandhamal district which witnessed violence that claimed four lives.

Patil, who was on a day-long visit on wednesday to have an on the spot assessment of the communal violence which broke out following the killing of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, could not find many people in the village to speak to about the incident.

"I could not find many people in the village. The people whom we met on the streets did not give any information. The streets were deserted and shops closed. It appeared that houses were also closed," Patil said while narrating his visit to the riot-hit areas.

He walked down through a lane of this village and visited a church which still had some decorative items hanging from the broken roof even as the entire church stood vandalised with burnt and broken furniture and cross.

Later Patil visited a relief camp set up nearby where more than 400 people, including children, were waiting in long queues clutching on to their plates as they were told that the Union Home Minister would serve the food.