Balasore: Balasore district administration in Odisha has withdrawn curfew in a part of the town and extended it in two other areas.
The collector and district magistrate of Balasore, in a post in X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, said the curfew in the areas under Town police station and Sahadevkhunta police station in Balasore Municipality has been extended from June 21 midnight till midnight of June 22.
However, the curfew will be relaxed for general public from 5 am to 2 pm in the two areas to enable them to meet their daily needs. During this period, all commercial establishments and routine services are allowed to operate, he added.
“No person will leave their homes or move on foot or by vehicle or travel or stand or roam around on any road or public place (except for emergency medical aid) except during the exemption time,” the order said.
On the other hand, the curfew under Industrial Area police station in the town has been revoked.
As a part of precautionary measures, schools, Anganwadi centres and colleges will remain closed till June 22. “This will not apply to those tasked with law and order/emergency and municipal services duties including Executive Magistrates, police personnel, health, electricity, PHD, government machinery related duties or other officer authorised in this behalf, government officials, bank staff, persons engaged in providing essential services to the public such as petrol pump, LPG supply and the examination centres as well as the candidates for appearing at any examination in the prohibited areas,” the collector’s order said.
It may be noted that the administration had imposed prohibitory order in the town a day after clashes between two communities left 10 people wounded on Bakrid. It had also shut down internet services and upgraded prohibitory orders to a full curfew to prevent further flare-ups on Tuesday.