Tight Security In Kendrapara Town To Diffuse Communal Tension

Kendrapara: A day after tension between two communities spilled over to the streets of Kendrapara town, the district administration on Thursday made elaborate security arrangements in an attempt to restore normalcy.

According to sources, 11 platoons of armed police force have been deployed in sensitive areas of the town to prevent any untoward incident.

Police also took out a flag march in the town and urged the people not to indulge in any act of violence.

To stop people from assembling in large numbers, prohibitory order has been clamped under Section 144 of the IPC.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Suraksha Samiti observed 12-hour bandh this morning. The activists picketed on the road and burnt tyres in protest.

Till reports last came in, no untoward incident has been reported from any part of the town.

Apprehending law and order situation, Kendrapara ADM Basant Rout had directed closure of all educational institutions under Kendrapara municipality. Besides, he had also given specific instructions to the Internet service providers to disable Internet service in Kendrapara town.

“We are closely monitoring the situation. We will take a decision to lift the prohibitory order after the situation improves in the town,” the ADM told the media.

He further said that the district administration is making efforts to pacify the members of both the communities through a peace committee meeting to restore normalcy in the town at the earliest.

According to sources, the district administration reportedly had not given permission to a community to organise a meeting at the Government High School ground to observe the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad. That community vehemently opposed the meeting of another community at the same venue to mark the birth anniversaries of Veer Surendra Sai and Netaji Subash Chandra Bose on Wednesday.

Protesting against the meeting, members of the community arrived at the High School ground. Sensing law and order situation, a section of the armed police rushed to the spot and dispersed the protestors. The district administration later cancelled the meeting forthwith.