Internet services suspended for 48 hrs in Sambalpur after violence during religious procession
The tension caused during a Hanuman Jayanti rally the previous evening, the Odisha government has shut down internet service in Sambalpur district for 48 hours beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
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Sambalpur: The tension caused during a Hanuman Jayanti rally the previous evening, the Odisha government has shut down internet service in Sambalpur district for 48 hours beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
"The situation is critical, and miscreants are disseminating false and inflammatory messages on social media in order to disrupt public order in Sambalpur district," according to the notification issued by Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, DK Singh, prohibiting internet use and access in Sambalpur.
The internet has been shut down to prevent the spread of "inflammatory and motivated messages" that have the "potential to inflame communal passion." No social media access...WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and so on.... It also stated that all MSPs and ISPs' internet/data services, as well as the broadband dial-up system, would be suspended.
Meanwhile, police have detained over 25 people and are questioning them in connection with the incident.
Prohibitory orders were imposed in all six police station areas in the district on Wednesday evening after clashes erupted between two groups and intense stone pelting injured ten police officers. Stones were thrown at the Hanuman Jayanti Samanwaya Samiti motorbike rally while it was passing through Motijharan on its way to Dhankauda from Bhutapara Chhak.
Several vehicles were damaged, including a shop and a two-wheeler.
Pravas Chandra Dandasebna, Sub-divisional Magistrate and Sub-Collector, Sadar Sambalpur, later issued a notification prohibiting gatherings of more than two people.
The motorbike rally, which takes place two days before Hanuman Jayanti, has followed the same route for the past 17 years, according to Sambalpur SP Batulla Gangadhar. The festival is held on Maha Vishuva Sankranti, which this year falls on April 14.
