Collective Religious Processions Banned For A Year In Odisha’s Sambalpur

Sambalpur: Collective religious processions of any form have been banned in Odisha’s Sambalpur for one year as part of efforts to maintain peace in the city.

The Sambalpur district administration on Thursday imposed restrictions on all collective religious processions in the district for one year.

The decision to ban such processions was taken at a peace committee meeting held in Sambalpur earlier in the day.

Announcing the decision, Sambalpur Superintendent of Police Mukesh Bhamu said the main objective is to maintain peace in the city. This decision has been taken to discourage any such situation which disrupted law and order during last Ram Navami festival, he said.

It may be noted here that huge processions are organised in Sambalpur on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti and Muharram.

The peace committee was convened by the district administration in view of upcoming Muharram festival. The meeting was attended among others by Collector Ananya Das, SP and members of the peace committee. It was decided to ensure peace and law and order during the festival and impost restriction on collective processions of religious nature as a precautionary measure, sources said.

Violent incidents including stone throwing, torching of vehicles and shops had marred the Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in Sambalpur in April this year.