The Kandhamal district administration has sought three companies of the Rapid Action Forces (RAF) and two units of the ODRAF (Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force) in addition to the 4,000 local policemen and paramilitary police already deployed in the strife-torn district. The administration has divided the entire district into 39 sectors for better police administration and sealed the roads connecting Baliguda, Tumulibandha, Barkhama, Paburia, Sirtiguda, Simanbadi, Daringbadi, Saranggada, Tikabali, Telangapadar, G Udaygiri, Kalinga, Raikia, Chakapada and Charichhaka.

Kandhamal SP Praveen Kumar said all steps had been taken to avoid any untoward incidents. "We are keeping a close watch on churches. Night patrolling has also been increased for a peaceful Christmas. It would be on till the festivities get over," Kumar said.

"We had a meeting with the Catholics and Baptists of Kandhamal on Saturday and they have expressed their desire of holding midnight mass on the intervening night of December 24-25," he said denying rumours of Christians not holding midnight mass. Even Christian leader Fr Jospeh Kalathil of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Diocese said all Christians would hold midnight mass at their "own convenience". "We have not asked any church not to hold midnight mass. But in a few cases, some churches may hold the mass a little earlier," said Kalathil.

Earlier, there were reports that the churches in Kandhamal were asked to refrain from the midnight mass. "We have asked the churches in Kandhamal to take necessary steps to skip the midnight prayer on December 24 in view of the prevailing situation," Cuttack-Bhubaneswar diocese Archbishop Raphael Cheenath was quoted in agency reports to have said. Cheenath, who met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday, claimed to have information of a number of mischief mongers entering the Kotagarh area of Kandhamal.

"We have already informed the Government about it. We hope police will take action," the Christian leader said.

When contacted, Home Secretary Aditya Padhi said the state Government had taken all necessary steps for a peaceful Christmas.

"The police have been directed to take action immediately if at all they receive any complaint regarding breach of peace," he said.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Sunday spoke to Patnaik over the state's preparedness for ensuring security for Christians.

• ORISSA has earned the dubious distinction of having the highest number of cases of communal violence this year, recording a 12-fold jump from last year, Orissa, which was in news for the attack against Christians, reported 178 such incidents till November 30 followed by Madhya Pradesh (115) and Uttar Pradesh (104). According to the latest government data, among the 153 killed this year in communal riots, Orissa, accounting for 28 per cent of the deaths, again topped the list. A total of 43 people were killed and 78 injured in the state this year compared to three and 61 respectively in 2007.

• The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has released an annual report of its humanitarian activities to convey that its "efforts are as large as Christians missionaries across the country". The report include efforts to consolidate 198 Hindu charitable trusts from 41 prants (region) for which VHP social work division will now act as the apex body. The trusts run hostels, orphanages, education activities and disaster relief.