The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to hand over to the Central Bureau of Investigation the investigation into the alleged rape of a nun during the on-going communal violence in Orissa.

"At this stage we do not think that handing over the investigation into the case from the state police to the CBI is in the interest of the victim as well as in the interest of justice. We think that the victim will cooperate with the state police," a bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said.

The bench noted that the victim has left the area and was refusing to participate in the Test Identification Parade (TIP), though nine persons have been arrested in connection with the alleged rape.

On the issue of compensation for damage caused to churches during the communal riots, the Bench asked the Orissa Government to assess the damage and assist in re-building them.

The apex court said that proceedings in cases arising out of the violence will have to be conducted by setting up fast track courts.

Further, the bench said that the central paramilitary forces provided to the state government for maintaining law and order in riot-hit area will remain there till December-end in view of the upcoming festival of Christmas.

The Archbishop of Cuttack had in a petition sought Rs three crore compensation for demolition of Churches in the anti-Christian riots, while seeking a CBI inquiry into attacks on Christians.

He alleged that Orissa government was not taking steps to arrest the culprits who allegedly raped and paraded the nun naked on August 25.