Bhubaneswar: The Sambalpur district administration has further extended the suspension of internet services in the violence-hit district for another 48 hours. District under the provisions of section 5 (2) of the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 read with Rule 2(1 ) of The Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency/ Public Safety) Rules 2017.
A notification issued by the Odisha Home Department states that the prohibitory order will be in effect from 10.00 am April 20 to 10.00 am April 22. However, lease line and broadband services across the Sambalpur District shall remain open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM during the period.
Meanwhile, in view of the improving situation in the area, the curfew has been relaxed for 11 hours on Thursday to enable people to purchase essential items and allow business transactions during the period. According to Sambalpur SP B Gangadhar, the curfew will be relaxed further in the next couple of days as the situation has improved in the area.
“For the first time, we have given 11-hour relaxation in curfew. It will be relaxed further in a day or two. We want normal life to be resumed as soon as possible,” Gangadhar told the media.
“Normalcy has been restored completely. People are roaming outside confidently and purchasing essential commodities from the market. Everybody wants normalcy and both communities have confidence. There is nothing to worry about,” the SP said.
So far, 85 persons have been arrested in connection with the stone pelting incident during a motorbike rally on April 12 and violence and arson during the Hanuman Jayanti procession on April 14. Sambalpur police are trying to arrest some more people who are on the run in connection with the violence, he added.
