All entry points to the riot-ravaged Kandhamal district of Orissa were sealed and security tightened in view of a special prayer meeting to be held later on Friday to pay homage to slain VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati.
Additional security forces were sent for deployment in the communally-sensitive district ahead of the proposed 'Kalas Puja' of Laxmanananda on Sunday at Chakapada where he had an ashram, official sources said.
"Entry points to Kandhamal were sealed to stop entry of anti social elements to the district as a step to prevent any untoward incident during a 'smruti sabha' being held in the memory of the Swamiji at Jalespeta," Y V Krishna, sub-collector of Baliguda, under which the area falls, said.
Laxmananda's followers performed a 'yagna' during the day at the ashram in Jalespeta, where he was gunned down on the night of August 23.
Patrolling was intensified in all sensitive areas and day curfew, clamped after the killing continued at Baliguda, K Nuagaon and Raikia as a precautionary measure, continued though it was relaxed for varied periods at six other places, official sources said.
Kandhamal collector Krishan Kumar said the situation at Tikabali, where police wielded the stick on a group of women trying to set ablaze a relief camp at Tikabali on Thursday, was 'tense but under control'. No fresh incident was reported as security personnel were deployed in strength there.
