Security beefed up in K'mal for Xmas

Berhampur: The Kandhamal district administration held discussions with religious leaders of different communities at Phulbani on Tuesday for peaceful celebrations on Christmas.
"We appealed to all sections of the society to ensure peaceful Christmas celebrations on December 25," said collector (Kandhamal) Yamini Sarangi .
The collector said the field-level officials have been asked to keep a strict vigil on the situation in their respective areas."Troublemakers will be taken to task," she said.
The administration has also decided to hold a two-day youth training programme at Phulbani from December 22. Around 1,200 youths from across the district will participate. "They will spread the message of communal harmony," Sarangi said.
On the eve of Christmas, more forces will be deployed in communally-sensitive area of the district, said SP (Kandhamal) K V Singh. "Patrolling will be intensified in different areas from December 22," said the SP.
Kandhamal, having a sizeable Christian population, witnessed communal and ethnic violence after the killing of senior VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and his four disciples on August 23, 2008.