Community leaders demand liquor ban on Christmas in Kandhamal | Bhubaneswar News
Berhampur: Leaders of different communities in Kandhamal district on Tuesday urged the district administration to ban the sale of liquor for three days starting Christmas eve. They put forth their demand at the district-level peace committee meeting in Phulbani. Speakers said there is a need to declare dry day from Dec 24 to 26 to maintain peace during the celebrations.
“We are examining their demands and will take appropriate steps for a peaceful Christmas celebration,” said collector (Kandhamal) Amrit Ruturaj. He said the adminitration has directed police and excise officials to intensify their raids to prevent illegal transport and sale of liquor before Christmas.
The collector said the block-level peace committee meetings would be held by block development officers in association with police before the festival. “We have suggested making a specific WhatsApp group at the block level and sharing the information to resolve any issue that arise in respective areas,” he added.
The district administration has also asked the Christian community to list out the churches that need more forces for security purposes, he added.
Kandhamal district has a sizeable Christian population with churches and prayer houses across the district. The churches are expected to be crowded. SP (Kandhamal) Harish BC said adequate forces would be deployed across the district while anti-Maoist operations would be intensified in vulnerable areas. The forces will be deployed near churches and sensitive areas, and patrolling will be carried out across the district, he said.
Kandhamal witnessed widespread communal and ethnic violence after the killing of senior VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and his four disciples on Aug 23, 2008. At least 38 people died, while several hundred houses and religious structures were destroyed in the violence. Similarly, Khageswar Mallick, a tribal leader, was killed at Barkhama village under Baliguda police station limits on Dec 25, 2007.
“We are examining their demands and will take appropriate steps for a peaceful Christmas celebration,” said collector (Kandhamal) Amrit Ruturaj. He said the adminitration has directed police and excise officials to intensify their raids to prevent illegal transport and sale of liquor before Christmas.
The collector said the block-level peace committee meetings would be held by block development officers in association with police before the festival. “We have suggested making a specific WhatsApp group at the block level and sharing the information to resolve any issue that arise in respective areas,” he added.
The district administration has also asked the Christian community to list out the churches that need more forces for security purposes, he added.
Kandhamal district has a sizeable Christian population with churches and prayer houses across the district. The churches are expected to be crowded. SP (Kandhamal) Harish BC said adequate forces would be deployed across the district while anti-Maoist operations would be intensified in vulnerable areas. The forces will be deployed near churches and sensitive areas, and patrolling will be carried out across the district, he said.
Kandhamal witnessed widespread communal and ethnic violence after the killing of senior VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and his four disciples on Aug 23, 2008. At least 38 people died, while several hundred houses and religious structures were destroyed in the violence. Similarly, Khageswar Mallick, a tribal leader, was killed at Barkhama village under Baliguda police station limits on Dec 25, 2007.
