Bhubaneswar, Dec. 14 -- Police have arrested 12 more persons on Sunday in connection with the violent clashes reported from MV-26 village of Malkangiri district. With six arrests made a day earlier, the total number of people taken into custody has now risen to 18 as investigations continue.

Nabarangpur MP Balabhadra Majhi held discussions with both sides in an effort to defuse tensionsand appealed residents to maintain peace and cooperate with law enforcement agencies.

According to the district administration, the overall situation in the violence-hit areas is gradually improving and normal life is slowly returning. However, security forces remain deployed at sensitive locations to prevent any fresh flare-ups and to maintain law and or...