Sambalpur: This year Eid-al-Fitr will be different in violence-hit Sambalpur Town of Odisha. As to the curfew is in place in the town after the violence prior and during the Hanuman Jayanti celebrations on April 14, there will no mass prayers at the local Eidgah on Saturday. This was decided at a peace meeting organised by the district administration here on Thursday.
Keeping in view the delicate law and order situation in the region, members of the minority community have agreed not to assemble at the Eidgah for namaz this year. Instead, they will hold namaz at 10 different mosques across the town.
“Since large gatherings have been prohibited due to the curfew, it was decided not to hold mass congregation on Eid to ensure public order,” Sambalpur SP B Gangadhar said.
Every year, over 5,000 members of the Muslim community congregate at the Eidgah in the Sakhipara area to offer namaz during Eid-al-Fitr.
Revenue divisional commissioner (RDC), North, Suresh Chandra Dalei, who convened the peace meeting on Thursday, said that the situation in Sambalpur was improving gradually.
Incidentally, members of the Hanuman Jayanti Samanwaya Samiti abstained from the meeting yesterday. “We will hold another meeting with those who were not present today in the next phase,” the RDC added.
Meanwhile, curfew restrictions have been relaxed for 12 hours from 6.00 am to 6.00 pm, providing the people of the town more time to go out of their homes for their daily activities. However, internet services continue to be suspended and are available to select customers for a fixed time every day.
