Press Trust of India
Phulbani, Dec 24: Amidst tight security and a 12-hour bandh call by a local tribal body, the communally-sensitive Kandhamal district is all set to celebrate Christmas Friday.
“We have deployed more than 42 platoons of forces including personnel of CRPF in the district for the occasion,” Kandhamal superintendent of police KB Singh said.
Christmas is being celebrated in about 800 churches, prayer houses and prayer cottages across the district, which witnessed ethno-communal riots in 2008 leaving at least 38 persons dead and damage of hundreds of places of worship.
The dawn-to-dusk band call is given by the Kui Samaj Samanya Samiti (KSSS) which demanded fulfillment of some local problems. The tribal apex body, had submitted a memorandum demanding the fulfillment of their 34-point charter of demands with the state government after the riots. While many of the demands have so far been fulfilled, others were yet to be met.
“We appeal to all the Christian believers to observe their festival on that day smoothly in traditional manner or as they like smoothly, but the KSSS after discussing with its branch committees has finally decided to observe a bandh in Kandhamal for the batter interest of the people,” KSSS secretary Lambodar Kanhar, who is also a local BJP leader, told reporters here.
The KSSS demands included strict action against those who have used fake caste certificates to get government jobs and avail other government benefits. Sources said the organisation also plans to hold memorial meetings in different parts of the district to observe the death anniversary of a tribal killed during the riots at Barkhama near Baliguda December 25, 2007.
District collector Yamini Sarangi said the administration had requested KSSS to refrain from observing bandh on Christmas day.
However rejecting the appeal of the administration, Kanhar said the organisation will go ahead with the proposed agitation. PTI
