Communal Clash: Sec 144 Relaxed In Odisha’s Joda Till 5PM Today

Keonjhar: The prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC were relaxed for 7 hours from 10 am to 5 pm on Friday to allow residents of the mining town of Joda in Odisha’s Keonjhar district.to buy essential commodities and goods.

Section 144 was clamped and internet services were suspended in the town after several people were injured and vehicles damaged after two groups of people clashed during a Ram Navami procession on April 11. The prohibitory orders were relaxed for 3 hours on April 12. However, fresh clashes were reported on April 13, following which 16 platoons of police were deployed in the area to maintain law and order.

Notably, the clash erupted when a group sought permission from the administration to carry religious flags to a Hanuman temple in ward–4 of the town. Though 5 people were to participate in the procession,  police later withdrew the permission.

Aggrieved over it, the group proceeded towards the Hanuman temple with flags but was intercepted midway by a handful of people belonging to another community, following which a clash erupted.