Prohibitory Orders In Odisha’s Bhadrak Town As Facebook Post Triggers Tension; 2 Cops Injured

Bhadrak: The Bhadrak district administration on Friday imposed prohibitory orders as tension prevailed in the Odisha town after a group of locals pelted stones at police, rendering three personnel injured, during a protest against police inaction on an ‘objectionable’ Facebook post.

Section 163 of Bharatiya Nyay Samhita has been promulgated for indefinite period within Purunabazar police limits. “Any congregation, gathering, meeting, agitation are strictly prohibited in the proceeding area and violation of the same shall be viewed seriously by the District Administration,” the order signed by sub-divisional magistrate Monaj Patra said.

It also mentioned that a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and a police sub inspector sustained injuries and a vehicle of the Bhadrak tehsildar was severely damaged in the stone pelting.

According to sources, some local persons had filed a complaint with the police against the social media post and demanded arrest of those involved. As the police reportedly did not take any step on the complaint, around 50 people took out a rally as a mark of protest in the afternoon.

As the protesting people reached Sathia, on the outskirts of Bhadrak town, the police stopped them and told them not to enter the town. This led to an argument between the protesters and the police.

Soon, the argument escalated into heated exchange of words and scuffle between the demonstrators and the police. Even as the police were outnumbered by the agitators, the former tried to disperse the latter by resorting to lathi-charge.

This aggravated the situation and the agitated people started pelting stones at the police. In the attack, two police personnel – Bhadrak City DSP Ansuman Dwivedi and Bhadrak Town police station SI Rojen Murmu- sustained serious injuries and were rushed to a local hospital. The violent agitators also damaged the official vehicle of the local tehsildar.

Following the incident, tension prevailed in the area and the district administration deployed seven platoons of police to prevent further escalation of violence and to maintain law and order, the sources added.