Sambalpur: Normalcy is gradually returning to Odisha’s Sambalpur district with no untoward incident reported from anywhere during the last 24 hours. The district witnessed rampant violence ahead of the Hanuman Jayanti celebrations earlier last week.
While curfew still remains in six police station areas of the district and the internet remains, the administration gave some relaxations to students and aspirations of different recruitment examinations on Sunday. Odisha DGP Sunil Bansal, who was in Sambalpur on Saturday and Sunday to review the law and order situation, said “The situation is improving fast and if it continues, we will relax the curfew further.” “I hope that normalcy will be restored in a day or two in the city,” the DGP added.
At the same time, the state police chief warned that stringent action will be taken against all who would be found responsible for disturbing the law and order situation.
Meanwhile, Sambalpur SP B Gangadhar said, “While 26 people were arrested in connection with the stone pelting incident during a bike rally on April 12, 53 others have been taken into custody for violence and arson during a procession on April 14. Our investigation is on and more arrests are likely soon.”
Stating that some accused persons are absconding, the SP said it appears that the incident was pre-planned. Over 100 people, involved in violent incidents, have been identified and a hunt is on to nab them.
Six persons have been arrested in connection with the murder of a youth. The SP said that the youth was killed over some past enmity and it had nothing to do with the violent clashes between two groups during the Hanuman Jayanti procession.
Additional security forces have been deployed in various ‘sensitive’ areas of the district to avoid any untoward incident. With the curfew still in force in the city and internet service down, people in the district are facing numerous problems. Most importantly, banks, ATMs and other digital payments are not working adding to the miseries of the people.
