Odisha: Group clash in Sambalpur as Hanuman Jayanti bike rally attacked with stone, Internet services suspended for 48 hours

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government on Thursday temporarily suspended telecom services for the next 48 hours beginning from 10 AM on April 13 in Sambalpur district.

The state government imposed the restrictions after clashes were reported between two communities in Sambalpur town on Wednesday during a motorcycle procession undertaken by Hanuman Jayanti Samanwaya Samiti members and Bajrangdal workers on Wednesday evening.

A notification issued by the government on Thursday said the ban on social media was imposed to prevent the spread of inflammatory and motivated messages to circulate in social media to disturb the public order in Sambalpur district and to restore peace and amity.

Additional Chief Secretary Home D K Singh promulgated the notification under the provisions of Section 5 (2) of the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 read with Rule 2 (1) of the Temporary Suspension of Telecomservices (Public Emergency Public Safety) Rules 2017 prohibiting the use and access of the internet, and data services including WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, mobile internet.

Data services of all mobile service providers, broadband dial-up systems and internet services of all internet service providers were also prohibited.

The Sambalpur district administration had also prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPc in the entire area of Town Police Station, Dhanupali Police Station, Khetrajpur Police Station, Ainthapali Police Station, Bareipali Police Station & Sadar Police Station in Sambalpur town.

As per reports, a bike rally was organised in the Sambalpur town to celebrate Hanuman Jayanti when some miscreants allegedly pelted stones at the rally leading to a clash between two groups.

Over 20 bikers and 12 police officers including the Additional Superintendent of Police were injured in stone pelting during a bike rally by Bajarang Dal, Hanuman Jayanti Samanway Samiti here on Wednesday.

A vehicle and a few shops were also set ablaze by the miscreants.

The Sambalpur police have detained more than 40 people in connection with the violence and intensified patrolling in the town to contain the law and order. (UNI)