Bhubaneswar , Oct 2 (ANI): Day curfew has been relaxed in Kandhamal District of Orissa till this evening following improvement in situation in nine violence-hit police station areas of the State.

The decision was taken at a high level meeting in Phulbani on Thursday morning.

The District Superintendent of Police, Praveen Kumar said, Ten companies of additional paramilitary forces sent by the centre have arrived in the district.

On August 23, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his associates were killed under mysterious circumstances leading to sectarian mayhem in the tribal-dominated Kandhamal District.

At least 42 companies of security forces including Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed since violence broke out after the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.

On September 26, curfew was clamped in nine sensitive areas of Kandhamal in the wake of violence in the region. (ANI)