NEW DELHI: Curfew has been clamped in Odisha's coastal town
Balasore
, on Tuesday morning following clashes between two groups. The unrest sparked over suspicions of
cow slaughter
during a religious celebration of a
minority community
.
The district administration also suspended internet service in certain sensitive areas of the town and urged people to stay in their homes and not to step out.
Curfew was imposed from midnight of June 17 to midnight of June 18, according to the police.
The clash erupted when a group of people staged a dharna in the Bhujakhia Pir area to protest the presence of animal sacrifice blood on the road. The opposing group allegedly started throwing stones at the protesters, leading to a violent confrontation. Armed with stones, sticks, and glass bottles, they set fire to vehicles and broke into various villages, pelting houses with stones, setting them ablaze, and vandalizing the roads. The incident left three people injured and resulted in damage to over half a dozen motorcycles.
The situation escalated late on Monday night when members of one community launched an attack on another community's homes in the Golapokhari, Motiganj, and Cinema Chhak areas of the city.
Odisha recently-elected chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi spoke with Balasore Collector Ashish Thakare on the same day, and instructed him to take immediate measures to restore order. Emphasising the importance of maintaining peace, Majhi assured that he would not tolerate any disturbance to the state's law and order.
To control the situation, the police resorted to a baton charge, subsequently imposing prohibitory orders under
Section 144
. At least 150 police personnel have been deployed in the area to avoid any further flare-up.
Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order) Sanjay Kumar has been camping in the town. Police conducted flag march in Balasore. About 30 individuals have been arrested so far, police said.
"All entry points to the OT Road closed," police said, adding that "No person shall leave their homes or shall move on foot, or by vehicle or travel except for emergency medical aid."
Balasore SP Sagarika Nath stated, "Curfew has been clamped in Balasore municipality area. All commercial establishments and shops to remain closed."
"Adequate police arrangements in the sensitive areas have been made and the situation is getting under control though some sporadic violence was reported in some places yesterday," said a senior police officer.
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