Police pickets posted in Sundargarh

Bhubaneswar: Police pickets were posted and patrolling intensified in Chikita village and nearby areas in Sundergarh district on Wednesday in the wake of a VHP-sponsored're-conversion' programme, police sources said. Altogether 187 tribals from 42 families from eight villages under Nuagaon block were 'reconverted' into the Hindu fold during Tuesday's mass re-conversion programme organised by the VHP's Sundergarh unit, VHP sources said. Adequate police force was deployed during the ceremony coinciding with the Christmas day as the area was mostly dominated by Christians, police sources said. The situation was peaceful now. The security measures were taken in view of the situation in Kandhamal district where one person was killed as churches were attacked and police vehicles torched during widespread violence following the attack on an anti-conversion leader. The VHP programme was attended by its Orissa unit Secretary Pradymna Mishra.