Bhubaneswar: Local residents of Kandhamal celebrated a peaceful Christmas marked by gaiety and fervour amidst tight police security.
Security was beefed up in the district on apprehensions of trouble as the district witnessed communal violence during Christmas in 2007.
The district witnessed violence next year following the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Laxmananand Saraswati and four of his disciples.
However, all these appears to be a thing of the past as members of Christian community turned up at the churches across the district in large numbers lighting candles, offering prayers and singing carols. Perhaps the only reminder of the past was the heavy presence of police outside the churches.
It came as a great relief to the people of Christian community of the district. "The midnight mass was held at all Catholic and Baptist churches in Kandhamal," said father Anant Kumar Nayak and sister Krishna. Kandhamal superintendent of police Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said 32 platoons of security forces apart from the local police personnel were deployed for maintenance of law and order. They included personnel of Central Reserve Police Force, India Reserve Battalion, Special Operation Group and District Voluntary Force, he said.
Patrolling was stepped up along with checking, blocking and searches at vulnerable places, including Daringibadi, Kotgarh, Tumudibandha and G Udayagiri. Security was particularly tightened at places of worship, prayer houses and entry points of the district.
Kui Samaj Samanwaya Samiti, a tribal outfit, observed Martyr's Day to mark the death anniversary of their leader Khageswar Mallick, who was killed in the village on December 25, 2007, in the Kandhamal riots. But, the outfit did not call for any bandh on December 25.
A district-level peace committee meeting was held under the chairmanship of collector Brunda D. on December 21 to ensure peaceful celebrations of Christmas. Besides various community leaders, Kandhamal superintendent of police and other senior officials attended the meeting.
