Bhubaneswar:The riot-torn Kandhamal district in Orissa was turned into a fortress today amid sealing of borders and heavy force deployment on the eve of the proposed kalas puja of Laxmanananda Saraswati even as sadhus failed to hold a rally here due to prohibitory orders.

"All six entry points to the district were sealed to prevent anti-social and unwanted elements from entering the district," Kandhamal District Collector Krishan Kumar said.

Similarly, five entry points to Chakapada, where Hindu organisations have planned to hold the 16th day ritual of Saraswati, had been sealed, he said, adding five companies of CRPF have been deployed in and around Chakapada.

"As many as 38 companies (one company comprises 90 personnel) of paramilitary force besides Armed Orissa Police have been delpoyed in Kandhamal district on eve of the proposed kalas puja," Director General of Police (DGP) Gopal Chandra Nanda told PTI, adding that additional six companies of central forces would reach the district very soon.

The DGP said day curfew would be clamped tomorrow in view of the special function of Saraswati s followers.

No vehicle or groups are being allowed to enter the district as a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incident during the day-long kalas puja, sources said.

In the state capital, sadhus were unable to take out their proposed rally in memory of Swamiji due to imposition of prohibitory orders but joined the state level Sradhanjali Sabha held to pay tribute to him and vowed to put an end to religious conversion in Orissa.
Source : PTI