Bhubaneswar: Indefinite curfew has been imposed in Balasore with internet services suspended in the coastal town, which continues to be tense following Monday (June 17)’s communal violence that left more than 20 people injured.
The situation in the town, which has seen communal trouble in the past, could be the first real test of the newly sworn BJP government in the state.
Trouble erupted in Balasore on Monday afternoon as members of a particular community suspected cow slaughter by people celebrating a festival in the communally-sensitive area of Patrapada after they found the water in some drains turning red.
Suspecting this to be animal blood, they confronted the members of the other community, which led to stone pelting between them.
As violence flared up and spread to other areas such as Golapokhari, Motiganj, Cinema Chhak, Manikhamb and Sulepur, the administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in the town.
By night, incidents of stone pelting and arson had been reported from different parts of the town. Miscreants vandalised vehicles and stoned houses, forcing the administration to impose a curfew.
Balasore’s police superintendent Sagarika Nath said multiple FIRs had been filed in connection with the incident and 34 persons had been detained. “Strict legal action will be taken following interrogation,” she told a private news channel.
Chief minister Mohan Majhi spoke to Balasore district collector Ashish Thakare and directed him to take all possible measures to bring the situation under control.
Former Union minister and Lok Sabha member from Balasore, Pratap Sarangi, has appealed to people of both communities to maintain peace.
Balasore-based journalist Sibdas Kundu said the Patrapada area of the town was the epicentre of violence. “It is the most sensitive area and bore the brunt of the violence,” he said, adding that the town had seen communal trouble in 1994 as well.
Incidentally, Balasore is located close to Bhadrak, which is believed to be the most communally sensitive area in the state. Bhadrak had seen widespread communal violence in April 2017 following which curfew was imposed in the town.
The communal flare-up in Bhadrak had followed alleged offensive posts on Facebook against a particular community.
Considering that social media could be misused by miscreants to aggravate the situation in Balasore as well, the state government has suspended internet services in the town for the next 48 hours.
The use of and access to social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Instagram has been prohibited through a notification issued by the state’s home department.
Nath, Balasore’s police superintendent, said as many as 40 platoons of police forces have been deployed in Balasore and other sensitive areas of the district to prevent a possible escalation of the situation.
Sources said that while efforts were on to restore peace by bringing community leaders on both sides to an understanding in the larger interest of peace, there was always a possibility of miscreants trying to take advantage of the situation.
This is exactly how the situation went out of control when a particular group staged a dharna protesting alleged cow slaughter.
Even before they could be persuaded to see reason and maintain peace, members of both communities started pelting stones at each other and things deteriorated further as violence spread from Patrapada to other areas.
To keep the situation under control, additional director general of police (law and order) Sanjay Kumar is camping in Balasore town, where the police conducted a flag march.
All six entry and exit points to the town have been sealed off, with exceptions being made only in urgent cases, such as when there is a need to travel for examinations or medical emergencies.
The Balasore incident is the first major challenge that the state’s maiden BJP government is facing after being sworn in barely a week ago.
Incidentally, the Balasore Lok Sabha and assembly seats were won by the saffron party, which not only bagged 20 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state but also a clear majority in the 147 seat-strong state assembly.
It may be mentioned that barely two days after the new government was installed, unidentified miscreants assaulted two priests and looted Rs 10 lakh from a Catholic church in the tribal-dominated Sundergarh district.
However, police ruled out any communal angle to the incident that took place in the Jharbahal area of the district, about 25 kilometres from Rourkela city.
Most political analysts feel that maintaining law and order will be a major challenge for the Mohan Majhi government, of which people have high expectations.
“This is the first BJP government in the state, and the people’s expectations from it are naturally very high. Maintaining law and order will perhaps one of the biggest challenges before the government,” said political analyst Rajat Kujur.
However, he added that the new government should be given time to settle down before being judged for its acts of omission and commission.
