48-Hour Internet Shutdown In Odisha’s Sambalpur After Hanuman Jayanti Rally Clash

Sambalpur: The Odisha government has shut down internet service in Sambalpur district for 48 hours from 10 am on Thursday in view of tension during a Hanuman Jayanti rally the previous evening.

“The situation is critical and miscreants are circulating false and inflammatory messages through social media to disturb public order in Sambalpur district,” the notification issued by Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, DK Singh, prohibiting internet use and access in Sambalpur, said.

The internet is suspended to prevent circulation of “inflammatory and motivated messages”, which have the “potential to inflame communal passion”. No access to social media…WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & …. Suspension of internet/data services of all MSPs & ISPs and Broadband dial up system, it added.

Meanwhile, police have detained more than 25 people and they are being questioned in connection with the incident.

Prohibitory orders were clamped in all six police station areas in the district after clashes erupted between two groups and intense stone pelting left 10 police personnel injured on Wednesday evening.  The violence erupted when stones were thrown at the motorbike rally of Hanuman Jayanti Samanwaya Samiti while the procession was at Motijharan, en route to Dhankauda from Bhutapara Chhak. A shop and a two-wheeler was set on fire and several other vehicles were damaged.

Sub-divisional Magistrate and sub-collector, Sadar Sambalpur, Pravas Chandra Dandasebna, later issued a notification saying gathering of more than two people is not allowed.

The motorbike rally, which is held two days before Hanuman Jayanti, has been taking the same route for last 17 years, Sambalpur SP Batulla Gangadhar said. The festival is celebrated on Maha Vishuva Sankranti, which falls on April 14 this year.