Sambalpur: Internet connectivity has been suspended for 48 hours from Thursday, while 43 people have been detained for their alleged involvement in the violence during a motorbike rally taken out to celebrate Hanuman Jayanti in Sambalpur town on Wednesday evening.
According to Sambalpur SP B Gangadhar, Police have detained 43 people and collected evidence against 26 of them. “We have photographic and video evidence against 26 people and will forward them to court today,” he said, adding, “It was a sporadic incident.”
Police have also seized several swords, sticks and petrol bombs during raids at various places since Wednesday evening.
As per tradition, every year a bike rally is taken out and a ritual ‘Jhanda Sthapana’ is organised before the Hanuman Jayanti, which falls on April 14 this year. A bike rally was taken out from the Dhanupalli police satiation Square on Wednesday. Suddenly, some miscreants began pelting stones at the rally when it was moving through the Motijharan Square in the city.
This incident sparked violence in many parts of the city and incidents of vandalism and arson was reported from several areas of Sambalpur Town. As a large security force was pressed into service to control the situation, several persons, including at least 10 policemen and IIC Anita Pradhan, sustained injuries while controlling the mob.
Section 144 was imposed on Sambalpur Town after the violence spread with a view to controlling the law and order situation in six police stations of the city – Town Police Station, Dhanupali Police Station, Khetrajpur Police Station, Ainthapali Police Station, Bareipali Police Station and Sadar Police.
Meanwhile, tension prevails in the entire area even as the different Akhada committees are preparing to take out large Hanuman Jayanti processions on Friday.
