Christmas was celebrated in Kandhamal district on Wednesday without any untoward incident. It shows that normalcy returned to this communally-volatile district which had faced communal violence in the past. In other parts of the State, including Bhubaneswar, Christmas was celebrated with religious fervour.
Speaking to The Hindu , Kandhamal Superintendent of Police (SP) Kunwar Vishal Singh said there were no reports of any untoward incident from any part of the district. Christmas was celebrated peacefully amidst communal amity.
Till Tuesday night, there were some apprehensions about peaceful celebration of Christmas in the district as the tribal organisation Kui Samaj Samanwaya Samity (KSSS) had given a call for Kandhamal bandh on the Christmas day. But on Tuesday night the administrative officials could persuade and pressurize the KSSS to bow down and call off their bandh call. On Wednesday the KSSS only held a memorial meeting at Barkhama near Baliguda to observe death anniversary of a tribal killed during riots at that place on December 25, 2007.
But all possible measures were taken to maintain peace and harmony in the district during the Christmas celebrations. Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division, Bikash Mohapatra and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police, southern range, Amitabh Thakur also reached Kandhamal district to monitor the affairs during Christmas.
According to Kandhamal Collector, several days before the Christmas peace meetings were held in all parts of the district for continuation of communal harmony during the Christmas festivities. These peace meetings were held at district level, block level and panchayat level. Leaders of all communities attended the peace meetings and vowed to maintain peace and communal amity during Christmas.
Tight securityBut there was no laxity in security during Christmas in Kandhamnal district, which had had been enhanced many folds. Forty platoons of police force were put on duty led by 137 police officers; seven Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP) and one Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) were put on duty to maintain law and order.
Two Quick Action Teams (QAT) of security forces were also ready and stationed at different strategic locations of the district to help out in case of emergency law and order situation. Apart from them three Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams were also ready to clear up roads in case there were any attempts of road blockade by miscreants during Christmas. All churches in the district have security cover around them.
