Internet Services Restored In Odisha’s Balasore; Curfew Relaxed For Longer Hours

Balasore: A week after being banned following a group clash, the internet services were restored in Odisha’s Balasore town and adjoining areas on Monday following considerable improvement in the situation.

A senior official said that the curfew clamped in the town has been relaxed in the areas under Sahadevkhunta police station from 5 am to 9 pm and those under Town police station from 5 am to 2 pm.

While the broadband and land line services in the town were restored on Sunday, mobile internet services were resumed from Monday morning.

Similarly, all schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres were reopened on Monday with restoration or normalcy.

While a cyber team of the administration has kept a sharp eye on social media to prevent spread of rumour, total 89 persons have been arrested and 29 cases filed in connection with the clash so far.

Even as internet services got restored, district collector Asish Thakre and SP Sagarika Nath have warned of stringent action against those spreading rumour to provoke tension in the town.

It may be noted that the day after clashes between two communities left 10 people wounded on Bakrid, the authorities shut down internet services in Balasore town and upgraded prohibitory orders to a full curfew to prevent any further flare-up.