Keonjhar: Internet services have been shut down in Keonjhar district till 12 AM of Thursday following the violent clash between two groups in the mining town of Joda on Monday.
The prohibitory orders under section 144 clamped in Joda yesterday have also been extended for another 24 hours i.e. till 10 AM of Wednesday. Meanwhile, 14 platoons of police force have been deployed in the area.
Tension flared up in the mining town following a clash between two groups on Monday. Police had to resort to blank firing to disperse the mob as both sides resorted to heavy stone pelting.
According to reports, one religious group on the occasion of Ram Navami on Sunday took out an Akhada procession. The group wanted to take the ‘jhanda’ (religious flag) to a Shiva temple in Ward no. 4 which was, however, not allowed by the police. Though the police had said that only five persons would be allowed to take the jhanda to the temple in the morning today, it did not permit the same.
Agitated over the issue, the group blocked the road near the Hanuman temple. While the group was going to the temple carrying the jhanda, it was opposed by another group resulting in the clash.
