Balasore: The ongoing curfew in Odisha’s Balasore town was relaxed for 17 hours from 5 am to 9 pm in areas under Sahadevkhunta police limits on Sunday.
In areas under Town police limits, the relaxation was from 5 am to 2 pm. “Commercial establishments and routine services will remain operational during this period,” a post on the X handle of Balasore collector said.
The district administration further stated that the curfew would continue in both areas till the midnight of June 23. All entry points to OT Road should be closed. All schools, anganwadi centres and colleges will also remain closed during this period as a precautionary measure.
Earlier, the Balasore administration had decided to lift curfew in areas within Industrial Area police jurisdiction from Saturday after reviewing the situation. Collector Ashish Thakare had, however, said internet services can resume only after consent from the Home department.
The curfew was initially imposed on June 17 after a face-off between two groups over animal slaughter in Patrpada during a religious celebration escalated and a mob damaged vehicles and a few religious structures despite imposition of prohibitory orders. While 12 cases have been registered on basis of complaints from both sides and 65 arrested for the violence and violating curfew norms.
No fresh violence has been reported in the town in the past few days, the administration noted.
