Balasore: Curfew in the areas under Balasore municipality, following a face-off between two groups over alleged animal slaughter, was on extended further till the midnight of June 20 (Thursday).
There will be relaxation for general public from 7 am to 11 am to meet their daily needs, Balasore Collector Ashish Thakare said in a post on X handle.
All commercial establishments are allowed to be opened during this period, he said.
“Curfew in the areas under Balasore municipality has been extended till 20.06.2024 midnight with relaxation for general public from 7am to 11 am to meet their daily needs. During this period all commercial establishments are allowed to be opened. All are requested to co-operate,” the Collector said on X.
The decision to relax curfew curbs has been taken to facilitate public to purchase emergency articles like medicines, vegetables, milk and other food materials.
The relaxation will not, however, apply to any public gathering or largescale movement of people.
Internet will remain suspended excluding bank and some government offices, the Collector clarified.
Police have so far arrested 35 people and forwarded them to court involved in the violent clash that led to the curfew in the civic body areas. Police said there was no fresh incident of violence after the clash.
On Wednesday, commercial establishments as well as private and government-run institutions remained shut, while entry points to Balasore town were sealed.
Citing tension, a notification issued by home secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh prohibited use and access of social media platforms for 48 hours till 10 am of June 20, while internet and data services, including mobile internet, were stopped to prevent incitement of trouble.
Relaxation, however, was extended to candidates appearing any examination and persons engaged in essential services on the production of valid ID proof.
The Collector said armed police force led by Balasore SP Sagarika Nath had conducted flag marches in sensitive areas on Tuesday evening as a confidence building exercise. “The situation is under control and steps are being taken to restore peace in the town,” he said while urging people to stay in their homes and not to step out.
The communal violence flared up just four days after the first-ever BJP government took oath in Odisha when some people spotted blood-stained water in a drain on Monday and staged a road blockade. The situation escalated when the two groups resorted to intense stone-pelting, leaving 10 injured. Some police personnel also suffered injuries while controlling the mob. Despite imposition of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC, a mob also damaged vehicles and pelted stones at some houses and even damaged some religious structures. Severe stone pelting was reported in Golapokhari, Motiganj, Barabati, Cinema Chhak and other areas of the town.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has asked the district collector to ensure that law and order prevailed in Balasore and normalcy was restored in the area as soon as possible.
