Christmas celebrations in the strife-torn Kandhamal district were peaceful. In the four major churches of Tikabali, Raikia, Daringbadi, Phulbani and in relief camps sheltering the minorities, the traditional Mid-night mass, on December 24, was preponed by about four hours.
District officials say amity prevailed and in some places, even people from the Hindu community participated in the evening celebrations.
The administration had earlier beefed up security after minority groups expressed apprehensions of Right wing organizations marring celebrations during Christmas festivities.
The state aministration had beefed up security throughout the state, especially in the Kandhamal district which had borne the brunt of bloody violence following the assassination of noted anti-conversion Swam Laksmanananda Saraswati at his ashram.
Right wing organizations had called earlier for a bandh on Christmas day to press for the arrest of those responsible for the Swami’s gruesome killing, but withdrew the call on the intervention of Chief Minister Navin Patnaik.
Soon after unidentified gunmen shot down the Swami, the government had accused Naxalites of having carried out the killing, Right wing parties, however, went on rampage destroying places of worship belonging to the minority community while blaming them for the murder.
The violence forced several members of the minority to take cover in the jungles and pushed scores of others to find security at relief camps set up by the state government.
With fears of violence haunting the minority, the state government deployed a hug posse of state and central agencies to thwart any efforts to trigger violence and vitiate the delicate peace that has only just returned to the district.
Nearly 50 companies of security forces were deployed in Kandhamal, including the RAF, while helicopters were pressed into service to conduct aerial surveys.
District officials say amity prevailed and in some places, even people from the Hindu community participated in the evening celebrations.
The administration had earlier beefed up security after minority groups expressed apprehensions of Right wing organizations marring celebrations during Christmas festivities.
The state aministration had beefed up security throughout the state, especially in the Kandhamal district which had borne the brunt of bloody violence following the assassination of noted anti-conversion Swam Laksmanananda Saraswati at his ashram.
Right wing organizations had called earlier for a bandh on Christmas day to press for the arrest of those responsible for the Swami’s gruesome killing, but withdrew the call on the intervention of Chief Minister Navin Patnaik.
Soon after unidentified gunmen shot down the Swami, the government had accused Naxalites of having carried out the killing, Right wing parties, however, went on rampage destroying places of worship belonging to the minority community while blaming them for the murder.
The violence forced several members of the minority to take cover in the jungles and pushed scores of others to find security at relief camps set up by the state government.
With fears of violence haunting the minority, the state government deployed a hug posse of state and central agencies to thwart any efforts to trigger violence and vitiate the delicate peace that has only just returned to the district.
Nearly 50 companies of security forces were deployed in Kandhamal, including the RAF, while helicopters were pressed into service to conduct aerial surveys.
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