Curfew in three Odisha towns following communal tension

As communal tension prevailed in three towns of Odisha during immersion processions of Lord Ganesha and another deity, the administration imposed section 144 of the CrPC in these areas.

Section 144 has been clamped in Rourkela in Sundargarh district, Soro in Balasore district and Patamundai in Kendrapada district following communal tension between two groups, police said on Tuesday.

Adequate security personnel have been deployed keeping in view the festival of Eid-ul-Zuha, said a senior police official.

Director General of Police (DGP) K.B. Singh said adequate force has been deployed to maintain communal harmony in these areas.

He said police will take tough action against the miscreants who indulged in hooliganism.

Section 144 was imposed in Rourkela late Monday night after some miscreants hurled bricks at an idol of Lord Ganesha when the immersion procession reached minority-dominated Nala Road.

Stones were pelted by the members of the two communities at each other and police had to resort to a mild lathi-charge to bring the situation under control.

Following the incident, a group torched a car and damaged two scooters.

Similarly, curfew has been imposed in Soro town of Balasore following incidents of communal violence since the last three days.

Balasore SP Niti Sekhar said even though prohibitory orders under section 144 were lifted for several hours in view of Eid, they would be in force till Wednesday morning.

Two communities indulged in brick-batting during the immersion procession of Lord Ganesh on August 9.

In Pattamundai town of Kendrapara district, curfew has been clamped after members of the minority community opposed the use of loudspeakers and beating of drums in front of a mosque during an immersion procession of Ma Khudurukuni, a local deity.

"The situation is under control. We have deployed adequate security personnel to restore peace in the area," said Kendrapara SP Nitinjit Singh.

--IANS

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