Communal Tension Over Social Media Post: Internet Services Shutdown In Bhadrak For 48 Hours

Bhadrak, Sept 28: The Odisha Government has suspended internet services in Bhadrak district Saturday for 48 hours (2 days) after communal tension erupted over a controversial social media post.

The decision to suspend internet services was taken to prevent dissemination of provocative messages that could exacerbate communal tensions.

To maintain law and order, around 20 platoons of police personnel have been deployed in Bhadrak town. Keeping the gravity of the situation in mind, police department is planning to deploy more police force.

In another development, A Peace Committee Meeting is likely to take place in Bhadrak, Saturday. The district administration is planning to form the peace committee in a bid to restore peace in the town.

The Puruna Bazar police, on the other hand, are questioning nine individuals from a certain group/community, who were involved in Friday's attack on police.

The incident unfolded when a communal tension erupted in Bhadrak Friday after a clash between two communities over a controversial social media post, prompting the district administration to impose prohibitory orders in areas under the Purana Bazar police station.

According to sources, at least two police personnel were injured in stone pelting following which the administration promulgated Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for an indefinite period.

The tension erupted over a social media post by a youth of a particular community, as members of the other group took out a protest rally. Members of the two communities brick-batted each other, sources said.

When a police team reached the spot and objected to the rally, as it was held without prior permission, a section of the protesters allegedly attacked the police personnel.

The Bhadrak DSP and Bhadrak Town Police Station SI suffered injuries in the violence, police said.

It was the second incident of communal violence of such scale in about three months in the state.

A conflict had initially arose in Bhujakhia Pir area in Balasore district reportedly over alleged animal slaughter and blood on the road.

In a bid to control the situation, the Odisha government had suspended internet services in Balasore town for 48 hours and extended curfew indefinitely following a clash between two groups, which had left several people injured.