Cuttack: Police conducted flag march in Dargah Bazaar and Kadam Rasool areas as Odisha’s Cuttack city was put on high alert with additional forces deployed to prevent any untoward incident on Friday, when mass prayers are observed by a community.
Speaking to the media, Twin City Commissioner of Police (CP) Suresh Dev Datta Singh said there has been a visible impact of the strict warning issue against spreading rumours through social media. He further stated the crackdown on such malicious posts is ongoing and sedition charges will be slapped if necessary if people try to disturb the peace of the city.
On Thursday, two helpline numbers – 7328077324 and 8480513007 – were issued asking people to report suspicious messages or rumours and misinformation regarding the recent unrest in the city.
“Cuttack is home to peaceful people. They can go about with their daily routine without any obstruction and celebrate festivals as usual. We are focussing on rumour mongers and mischief makers. Police deployment continues in the city as a precautionary measure,” the CP said, negating any possibility of further tension.
Singh added that 30 people have so far been arrested for the twin incidents in Cuttack, which was later contained through 48-hour internet showdown and 36-hour curfew.
Ten people have been arrested, which include 3 during house-to-house raids in Hatipokhari area of the city on Thursday, for their alleged involvement in the group clash that occurred during the Durga idol immersion ceremony on October 3. Twenty more have been taken into custody in connection with the violence which occurred during the rally by VHP protesters against the immersion clash, on October 5 evening.
Videos, showing anti-social elements breaking and burning shops and pelting stones at police, are being closely examined, and a manhunt has been launched to nab all involved in the violence, police sources added.