Phulbani: As the Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is set to hold a condolence meeting to observe the death anniversary of its pioneer Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati at Gandhi Smruti Bhawan here today, police have made elaborate security arrangements to deflect any untoward episode amid the event.

Saraswati, alongside four of his adherents, was killed on this day eight years back setting off a month-long uproar in Kandhamal locale that left 38 people, a larger part of them Christians, dead.

As many as 21 platoons of OSAP police, two companies of CRPF, two companies of SOG and one unit of DVF along with two ODRAF teams have been deployed in the vulnerable areas of the district. Two ASPs, seven DSPs and 30 police officers have been engaged to supervise the security arrangements in the district. In view of the riots that followed the killing of the seer, police in plainclothes have also been stationed to check security activities, sources said.