Cop vigil up in Kandhamal district ahead of Christmas

Berhampur: Security has been tightened in Kandhamal district, which has a sizeable Christian population, ahead of Christmas celebrations on Sunday. Altogether 27 platoons of police forces and several officers have been deployed in sensitive areas, while checking of vehicles in border areas started from Friday.
“Checking of vehicles has started and would continue till the end of Christmas. Police forces would be deployed in some churches located in sensitive areas. Patrolling has also been intensified to keep a vigil on the law and order situation during the festival,” said Kandhamal SP Vineet Agrawal.
“Anti-Maoist operations have been also carried out in several vulnerable areas while the forces have been alerted to keep a watch on the movement of ultras during the period,” he said.
“We have also ordered crackdown on the illegal sale of liquor on the occasion of Christmas,” he added.
Leaders of different communities during a peace meeting in Phulbani on Monday appealed to the district administration to ban the sale of liquor for at least three days before Christmas.
Collector Ashish Ishwar Patil during a district-level meeting appealed to all sections of the society to ensure peaceful celebration of Christmas.
Before the district-level meeting, peace committee meetings were held in each police station across the district.
Churches and prayer halls across the district have been decorated with lights and stars. Choral singing practice is also going on in different churches ahead of Christmas.