Internet suspended in Odisha’s Sambalpur after clashes during Hanuman Jayanti rally

Sambalpur SP Battula Gangadhar said police have arrested 26 persons over rioting charges and interrogating 17 others after examining the video footage of the incident

Updated on: Apr 13, 2023, 16:37:26 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Internet services in Odisha’s Sambalpur district have been suspended for 48 hours from 10 am on Thursday in view of violence that broke out during a bike rally organised on Wednesday for Hanuman Jayanti.

There were reports of vandalism and arson in the area as well. (Representative file image)

“Violence broke out between two communities in Odisha’s Sambalpur district on April 12. Internet services suspended, Section 144 imposed in the district after the violence,” a notification issued by the home department stated.

Also Read: LG hails police for ensuring law and order during Ram Navami processions

Besides, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and other social media services of all mobile service providers will also remain suspended during the next 48 hours.

On Sunday, at least 15 persons including 10 police personnel were injured in Sambalpur town when 600 members of Hanuman Jayanti Samanwaya Samiti workers on 300 bikes were on their way to Durga Mandir Golbazar via Motijharan, Bhutpada, Raza nagar, Sumapalli, Kumbharpada and Daleipada.

Sambalpur SP Battula Gangadhar said police have arrested 26 persons over rioting charges and interrogating 17 others after examining the video footage of the incident.

“Though there was intelligence input of tension between the communities, we did not have any specific inputs for violence,” said Gangadhar.

Police have mobilised 30 platoon forces in the town.

There were reports of vandalism and arson in the area as well.

Later, the administration clamped Section 144 in entire areas of Town police station including stations at Dhanupali, Khetrajpur, Ainthapali, Bareipali and Sadar in Sambalpur.

Meanwhile, officials said processions will be taken out from different places from 7pm on Friday to mark Hanuman Jayanti.

“Discussion with different committees fruitful. They promised all cooperation,” said Sambalpur district collector after meeting with the Hanuman Jayanti Coordination Committee and other stakeholders.

Reacting to the incident, union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said it showed the incompetency of the state govt. “This law & order situation is not good in the state,” said Pradhan.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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