Sambalpur (Odisha): The Odisha government suspended internet services in the Sambalpur district on Thursday following communal tension that erupted during a Hanuman Jayanti rally in Sambalpur on Wednesday. The internet services were shut down and social media platforms were blocked for 48 hours from 10 am on Thursday.
A notification from the Odisha Home Department said that social media platforms were blocked as they may spread rumors, which have the potential to inflame communal passions, and eventually, that may cause a disturbance of public order in the district. Blocking social media platforms will prevent the spread of inflammatory messages and restore peace in the district. The situation is tense as miscreants are circulating false and inflammatory messages through WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter to disturb the public order in the Sambalpur district, the notification added.
At least 15 police personnel, including the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Sambalpur and the IIC of Dhanupali Police Station, were injured in the violence that broke out during the motorbike rally on Wednesday. According to police sources, the violence broke out when stones were thrown at the rally participated by around 1,000 motorcyclists as they were passing through Bhudapara and Sunapli under the Dhanupalli police station area in the city. However, the exact cause of the violence would be known after investigation.
Also read: Violence in Odisha's Sambalpur in Hanuman Jayanti rally, 15 Cops injured
The injured police personnel were rushed to a hospital and the rally, which was taken out by Hanuman Jayanti Coordination Committee, was stopped by the administration. Later, the administration clamped Section 144 in areas of Town Police Station, Dhanupali Police Station, Khetrajpur Police Station, Ainthapali Police Station, Bareipali Police Station and Sadar Police Station in Sambalpur for 48 hours. Additional SP Tapan Mohanty said, "Section 144 has been enforced in all the six police station areas in Sambalpur. The sufficient police force is on the ground and the situation is under control."
