"All communities have resolved for a peaceful celebration of Christmas," Collector B S Punia said.
To maintain law and order in vulnerable places in the district comprising sizeable Christian population, armed policemen were deployed in villages as well as selected churches from December 22 to ward off any threat, DSP, Phulbani, Gupta Prasad Behera said.
Massive patrolling, checking of vehicles and frisking of the suspected persons were being carried out at entry points into the district from December 22.
Besides, repeated flag march by armed police was being carried out to instill confidence among the people ahead of the festivities at different places including Phulbani, Baliguda, G Udayagiri, Tikabali, Raikia and Tumudibandha areas.
Kandhamal had grabbed international headlines due to widespread ethno-communal carnage in 2008 in the aftermath of assassination of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four others at his ashram during Janmasthami celebrations on August 23 that year in which at least 40 people died.
During 2007 Christmas, Saraswati was also attacked leading to violence in certain areas.
