Bhubaneswar, Aug. 8: Security has been tightened across Kandhamal district in Odisha to observe the death anniversary of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmananand Saraswati, which coincides with Janmashtami tomorrow.

Sources said police and paramilitary forces have been deployed at all the sensitive points in the tribal-dominated district, which witnessed one of its worst communal riots in 2008 following the killing of Saraswati at Jalaspeta Ashram on the Janmashtami day. Four associates of the VHP leader were also gunned down at the ashram with Maoists later claiming responsibility for the incident.

Sub-divisional police officer of G. Udaygiri Seshdev Bariha said one platoon of force had been deployed at each police station in the communally sensitive area, which is represented in the Odisha Assembly by the BJP. Similar steps have also been taken in other areas of the district to maintain law and order tomorrow when the supporters of Saraswati are likely to take out rallies and organise public meetings.

Sources said that though four years had passed since the killing of the VHP leader and communal passions subsided substantially, the Kandhamal district administration was not willing to take any chances. The administration will keep a close watch on the memorial meetings to be organised by the Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Smruti Nyasa (LSSN).

One of the trustees of LSSN Laxmikant Dash said a memorial meeting would be organised at Jalaspeta Ashram tomorrow to mark the occasion and a statue of the late VHP leader would also be installed there. Memorial meetings are also expected to be organised at Chakapad, the ashram where the VHP leader spent the better part of his active life. The supporters of Saraswati are also likely to reiterate the demand for the arrest of all the accused in his murder since they are not satisfied with the crime branch probe into the incident.