Extra policemen in Kandhamal for trouble-free Christmas

BHUBANESWAR - Thousands of policemen have been deployed in Orissa’s trouble-hit Kandhamal district to ensure peaceful Christmas celebrations, authorities said Tuesday.

The district witnessed widespread communal violence last year after the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.

“We have deployed adequate number of policemen in all sensitive places of the district. We have also intensified checking in all entry and exit points,” Superintendent of Police S. Praveen Kumar told IANS.

“We are intensifying police patrolling to ensure trouble-free Christmas celebrations,” he said.

A district-level peace committee meeting was held at the district headquarters of Phulbani Monday. It was attended by leaders of all religious communities, local political leaders and officials.

“We decided in the meeting to hold such a get-together on a regular basis, especially a few days before any religious celebration,” District Collector Krishan Kumar told IANS.

“Such meetings would also be held in block headquarters. The local authorities will organise them,” he said.

Kandhamal district, about 200 km from here, witnessed widespread communal violence after the murder of the VHP leader and four of his aides at his ashram Aug 23 last year. Police had blamed Maoists for the killings.

At least 38 people were killed in the state and thousands of Christians forced to flee their homes after they were attacked by mobs.