Daringbadi: Many parts of Kandhamal district have an air of festivity ahead of Christmas celebrations. Brahmanigaon, Daringbadi and other communally sensitive areas are under a cover of elaborate security.
As these areas had witnessed communal flare-ups in the past, security has been beefed up in these sensitive pockets ahead of Christmas celebrations December 25.
The district administration and police have taken up various security measures to ensure peaceful conduct of the festival. Round the clock patrolling has been intensified along with checking of vehicles at vulnerable places.
All places of worship, particularly churches in Daringbadi and Brahamanigaon, have been put under security cover. Keeping in view the Omicron fears, police are checking mask-wearing at this time of festivity.
Armed forces have been deployed around selected churches and areas having minority population to maintain law and order. Anti-socials and history-sheeters are under police scanner.
It may be noted here that the district had witnessed communal violence on Christmas-eve in 2007. It was followed by a second round in August 2008 when VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati was killed.
The violence that followed his death claimed 38 lives, mostly Christians and hundreds of houses had been burnt.
PNN