Bhubaneswar: With continued violence sparked by the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati claiming nine lives in Orissa, more forces were sought for deployment in the communally sensitive Kandhamal district.
"Though tension prevails in Kandhamal, the situation is improving gradually. Security forces have been able to enter inaccessible areas by removing obstacles placed by miscreants," DIG R P Koche told PTI over phone.
Several roads including that connecting Raikia and Udaygiri has been cleared, facilitating speedy and smooth force movement, he said adding that the situation in towns and urban centres came under control, while remote and inaccessible areas still remained trouble-prone.
In a bid to further step up security, as many as 12 platoons of Orissa State Armed Police were being requisitioned for deployment in tension-hit areas, Revenue Divisional Commissioner, southern division, Satyabrata Sahu said.
As Kandhamal remained on the boil, curfew continued in all major towns of the district, while prohibitory orders under Section 144 were in force in the entire district, to prevent outside elements from entering the area, he said.
In order to review the situation in the tribal dominated district, Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal is scheduled to visit Kandhamal shortly, sources said.
A large number of people from areas like Raikia, Rupagaon, Chakappada, Tikabali and Tumudibandh have fled and took shelter in forests, the sources said.
