Bhubaneswar (PTI): As riot-hit Kandhamal remained volatile amid fresh arson, the Orissa Government on Thursday clamped curfew in sensitive areas in the tribal district and asked the Centre to send 10 more companies of para-military forces.

About 100 houses and a couple of churches were either torched or damaged at about half-a-dozen places in Tikabali, Daringibadi and G Udaygiri areas late last night and in the wee hours of Thursday.

The decision to seek additional central forces came in the wake of fresh violence after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the Kandhamal situation.

"Every effort is being made to maintain law and order in the district. The Central Government has been asked to send 10 more companies of forces," Patnaik told reporters here.

Patnaik said the state government was taking all steps to contain violence, which had been taking place since a month in the aftermath of the killing of VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati on August 23.

According to the Director General of Police (DGP) G C Nanda, direction was given for immediately rushing seven more companies of CRPF jawans to Kandhamal from other districts.

"This will add to the existing 26 companies of the CRPF and three companies of RAF jawans," the DGP said adding that stray incidents were taking place in the district.

Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy said the government had taken all steps to put an end to the ongoing violence.