After fresh clashes in Odisha town, internet suspension extended till tomorrow

On Monday, clashes between two communities began in Joda town when 4-5 Bajarang Dal activists led by the Joda block president of Bajrang Dal was passing through Baneikela Market. Some members of a minority community allegedly obstructed them and tore their flag.

Published on: Apr 13, 2022, 15:16:05 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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A day after a clash between two religious communities in the mining town of Joda in Odisha’s Keonjhar district left nearly a dozen people injured; a fresh clash occurred late on Tuesday night in Joda town forcing the police to clamp an Internet shutdown till Thursday.

Two groups pelted stones at each other on Joda-Baneikala road in which vehicles of the police and fire services were also vandalised. After the incident, a road blockade was staged at Saheed Nagar Chhak in Joda town of Odisha’s Keonjhar district. (SOURCED.)

According to the police, two groups pelted stones at each other on Joda-Baneikala road in which vehicles of the police and fire services were also vandalised. After the incident, a road blockade was staged at Saheed Nagar Chhak in the area.

Barbil sub divisional police officer Himansu Behera said in order to avoid any further such incident, as many as 16 platoons of police force have been deployed across the town. Imposition of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC continues in the town, while all educational institutions and shops have been shut. The restriction will remain in force at least till 10 am of April 14.

On Monday, clashes between two communities began in Joda town when 4-5 Bajarang Dal activists led by the Joda block president of Bajrang Dal was passing through Baneikela Market. Some members of a minority community allegedly obstructed them and tore their flag. As clashes broke out, 10-12 people from both sides were injured leading to promulgation of prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC.

On Ram Navami on Sunday, a group of Bajrang Dal workers wanted to take out an akhada procession carrying flags to a Shiva temple in the town that was denied permission by the authorities. However, on Monday, police allowed only 4-5 people to take the flags to the Shiva temple.

“When the group began to move to the Hanuman temple carrying flags, locals from another community stopped them from entering the area, which triggered tension in the town,” said a police official.

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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