**Kendrapada/ Rourkela/ Soro:** Tension flared up at the Nala Road and Main Market Area of Rourkela following a group clash over idol immersion procession of Lord Ganesh on Monday evening.
Situation became very tense as the agitators burnt vehicles and blocked roads following the clash.
Section 144 is imposed in Rourkela. IG (WR) and other senior police officers rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. 20 platoons of police and CRPF are deployed to bring the situation under control and to check any further untoward incidents.
As mass prayers in Idgah ground was prohibited by the district authorities, prayers were held in the respective mosques on the auspicious occasion of Bakra-Eid.
On Tuesday, Peace Committee meeting was convened by the district administration chaired by Western Range IG R.K. Sharma and Sundargarh Collector. Rourkela SP and ADM were also present.
The members of all the communities residing in the city and also members of the Rourkela Integration Forum participated in the meeting. All extended their full cooperation for restoring normalcy and harmony in the steel city known for its strong sense of brotherhood and national integration since long as it has been a cosmopolitan city.
In a similar incident, Maa Khudurukuni immersion procession led to a clash between two rival groups on Monday at Pattamundai in Kendrapada district leading to rising tensions, which compelled the police to impose section 144 at Pattamundai municipality area.
It maybe recalled that similar tensions flared up in Soro area of Balasore district on Friday night leading to imposition of night curfew on Monday from 6 pm to 6 am on Tuesday.
19 platoons of police have been deployed to bring the situation under control.
Section 144 was relaxed there till 2 p.m on the day, following which the minority group could hold prayer meetings between 9 to 10 a.m for the Eid al-Adha or Bakra-Eid celebrations amid tight police bandobast. However, no processions was allowed.
On Tuesday, the administration once again reimposed night curfew on Tuesday also from 6 pm to Wednesday 6 am.
