Fresh restrictions and a curfew was imposed in Odisha’s Sambalpur after incidents of violence were reported during Hanuman Janmotsav’s processions on Friday.
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Several shops were set on fire during the Hanuman Janmotsav rally in the city.
In Odisha, Hanuman Janmotsav is celebrated on Maha Vishuva Sankranti (New Year), which fell on Friday (April 14) this year.
According to officials, the curfew, imposed by the district administration, is in place with immediate effect until further orders.
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PEOPLE ALLOWED TO BUY ESSENTIAL ITEMS; SCHOOLS, OFFICES CLOSED
In a notification, the Sambalpur sub-collector said “a state of Curfew U/S- 144(1) CrPc is hereby declared with immediate effect until further orders.”
People are permitted to go out and buy essential items between 8 am to 10 am and between 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
All educational institutions, government and private offices and business establishments were to remain closed, said Sambalpur District Collector Ananya Das.
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AUTHORITIES APPEAL FOR PEACE, NORMALCY
The collector appealed to the people to cooperate with the district administration so that peace would be restored in the city at the earliest.
The curfew was imposed to restore peace and normalcy in the region after fresh violence was reported on Friday night, said DIG (North Central Range) Brijesh Kumar Rai.
VIOLENCE ON FRIDAY DESPITE HEAVY SECURITY
Despite heavy police presence and Section 144 being enforced in several areas, violence broke out during the Hanuman Janmotsav rally on Friday.
Ten police personnel, including one woman cop, were injured in the violence during a motorbike rally in the city on Wednesday.
Section 144 was imposed in all six police station areas of the district. Thirty-two people were arrested after the violence.
Videos on social media showed people hurling stones at the rally. India Today could not independently verify the authenticity of these videos.
One makeshift shop and several two-wheelers were set on fire while a number of cars were damaged during the violence. Stones were also pelted at nearly 1,000 people who participated in the motorbike rally.
INTERNET SHUT FOR 48 HRS
In response to the violence that occurred on Wednesday, the state government ordered a 48-hour internet shutdown in the entire district, starting from 10 am on April 13.
Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, DK Singh, said the internet was suspended to prevent the circulation of “inflammatory and motivated messages”, which have the “potential to inflame communal passion”.
The notification said, “No access to social media WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Suspension of internet/data services of all MSPs & ISPs and Broadband dial up systems.”
