Bhubaneswar: The Sambalpur district administration on Thursday put restrictions on all collective religious processions in the district for one year. The decision was taken in a peace committee meeting held in Sambalpur on Thursday.
Speaking about the decision, SP Mukesh Bhamu said, “We want peace in the town. This decision has been taken to discourage any such situation which disrupted law and order during the last Ram Navami.”
“It was necessary, keeping in mind the upcoming Muharram and Hanuman Jayanti festivals. The religious festivals can be observed with pomp and gaiety but no permission will be given for taking out any procession. Communal harmony is important to us and we want to maintain peace,” Bhamu added.
Stones were pelted by a rival faction during a procession taken out on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti last year. The total number of arrests in connection with the violence in Sambalpur had reached over 100.
Sambalpur administration had sealed the district borders sharing with Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Angul, and Sonepur. Internet services were also suspended and curfew was clamped to bring the deteriorated law and order situation under control thereby restoring normalcy.
