The government sealed all entry points to Kandhamal, which witnessed largescale violence following the killing of VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati.
BHUBANESWAR: More than 5,000 security men were deployed and a helicopter pressed into surveillance on Wednesday in riot-hit Kandhamal district of Orissa as Chrisitians there prepared to celebrate the Christmas amidst a feeling of insecurity and appeals for peace during the celebrations.
The government sealed all entry points to Kandhamal, which witnessed largescale violence following the killing of VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati, also decided to press into service a helicopter to patrol the riot-hit areas of Kandhamal and Sambalpur districts.
"Besides adequate number of central forces, we have got a chopper for the patrolling on Christmas day", DGP Manmohan Praharaj said.
About 4000 para-military personnel, 1,000 state armed force and general police have been deployed in the district, official sources said.
Besides Kandhamal, the state government has identified Sambalpur and Sundergarh as sensitive districts where security arrangements have been made extensively.
"We have made security arrangement in 30 churches of Kandhamal for smooth celebration of the festival", home secretary Aditya Padhi said adding every possible step was taken to ensure incident-free Christmas.
chief minister Naveen Patnaik, Hindu Jagaran Samukshya, which opposed conversion by missionaries, appealed for peaceful Christmas but Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Rapheal Cheenath said tension continued to simmer in Kandhamal and people in remote areas of the district were apprehensive of trouble during the Christmas tonight and tomorrow.
Kandhamal SP Praveen Kumar said arrangements had been made for celebration of the Christmas in relief camps where people had been staying ever since violence broke out in August.
The SP said negotiations were being held with leaders to conduct a peaceful tribal congregation at Barakhama in Kandhamal on Thursday. The adminsiration had already imposed prohibitory order for the purpose.
The state government has asked collectors and SPs of all districts not to leave the headquarters till the festival was over.
An additional director general of Police (ADG) rank officer is camping in Kandhamal, the DGP said adding he would go to Kandhamal and Sambalpur on Thursday for an on-the-spot monitoring of the security.
Patnaik spoke to Union home minister P Chidambaram on phone and said he had been regularly revewing the situation across the state including in Kandhamal.
A high-level meeting chaired by chief secretary AK Tripathy reviewed situation across the state.
"I appeal to the people to celebrate the Christmas in peace and joy", the chief minister said while asking the police to take no chance in maintating law and order across the state.
Hindu Jagaran Samukshya (HJS) also issued an appeal seeking a peaceful Christmas. "Do not create any trouble during the Christmas as Orissa is earning a very bad name over the developments in Kandhamal", HJS state president Ashok Sahu said.
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