Violence between two non secular teams had erupted in Odisha’s Sambalpur city throughout bike procession undertaken by Hanuman Jayanti Samonyoya Samiti (HJSS) members on Wednesday night. Photo: Special Arrangement
Hanuman Jayanti Samonyoya Samiti (HJSS) in Sambalpur district has referred to as for a 36-hour-bandh following a violent clash between Hindus and Muslims, in the western Odisha city.
“People should come forward to participate in Hanuman Jayanti celebration in large numbers on Friday evening. Till that time, all traders should shut down their shops in solidarity with the cause,” mentioned HJSS president Raj Kumar Badapanda.
Mr. Panda mentioned, “Wednesday’s bike rally was peaceful. Some miscreants attacked bikers in an organised manner. The Sambalpur Police administration failed to provide security to the people.” The Sambalpur unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party backed the bandh call saying the procession would positively take its ordinary route.
The Hanuman Jayanti procession would start from Dhanukoda and cross via Muslim-dominated colonies like Solapali, Gengutipali, Motijira, Bargatpada and Bhatapada.
“The attack on the bike rally was pre-planned. Stones were showered on those who were part of the bike rally from rooftops. Attackers were prepared to harm people. We cannot tolerate this. The procession would take its usual route as it has been doing in the past 40 years. It is up to the police administration to provide protection to the Hanuman Jayanti procession,” mentioned Girish Patel, Sambalpur district BJP president and ex-president of HJSS.
“What happened yesterday is condemnable. There is a collapse of law and order in Odisha. I urge the State government to tackle the situation,” mentioned Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Odisha unit of the BJP is sending a workforce of MLAs to Sambalpur for Hanuman Jayanti celebration.
On Wednesday, stones had been pelted at HJSS members comprising largely Bajrang Dal members because the bike rally was passing via Muslim-dominated colonies in Sambalpur. About 10 police personnel and 5 members of HJSS sustained accidents.
“The attack on the bike rally was pre-planned”Girish PatelSambalpur district BJP president
Internet companies had been suspended for 48 hours in Sambalpur on Thursday. Social messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and different such media, which had the potential to inflame communal passions, thereby resulting in acts of inflicting disturbance of public orders in Sambalpur, had been being monitored. Prohibitory orders beneath Section 144 of CrPC had been clamped in totally different police station limits of Sambalpur to carry the state of affairs beneath management.
The Sambalpur district and police administration staged flag march in the city to instil a way of safety and warn trouble-mongers.
“We have deployed 42 platoons of police to be led by 26 Deputy Superintendents of Police, assisted by 50 police inspectors and 70 sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors,” mentioned Brijesh Rai, Deputy Inspector General of Police (north-central vary).
Mr. Rai knowledgeable the police had been anticipating the procession to cross off easily, and any act of sabotage can be handled iron palms.
Meanwhile, the State Home Department termed the state of affairs tense and demanding following clash between Hindus and Muslims.
