Sambalpur: Twenty-five persons including 10 police personnel were injured Wednesday as violence rocked this city during a motorbike rally that was organised as part of the Hanuman Jayanti festival, an official said. He added that 15 others belonging to two different communities suffered injuries in the free-for-all clash. The Hanuman Jayanti festival is celebrated in Odisha on the ‘Maha Vishuva Sankranti’ which falls on April 14 this year.
According to preliminary reports, violence erupted when stones were thrown at the bike rally in which there were approximately 1,000 participants. This led to a clash between two groups of people belonging to two different communities. To prevent the situation from escalating, the rally, organised by the Hanuman Jayanti Coordination Committee, was immediately stopped by the district administration.
In the clash, Dhanupali IIC Anita Pradhan, her Town police station counterpart Prakash Karna and SDPO Pradip Sahu were hurt. Violence first broke out in Sunapali area under Dhanupali police limits and then it spread to the VSS Stadium road and Buthapada area leading to arson and ransacking of properties.
Sources said, the bike rally started from Dhanupali Square and was crossing Motijharan Chowk when stones were allegedly pelted at them. It has been alleged that provocative comments were made by some of the persons participating in the bike rally. There were reports of vandalism and arson in the area as well. A shop was set on fire and several vehicles and two-wheelers parked on the roadside were vandalised with stones and sticks. Keeping the tense situation in mind, huge police deployment was done in the area. Eyewitnesses said that police had to resort to lathi-charge at the District School Square to disperse the violent mob.
Later the district administration clamped Section 144 in areas under Town police station, Dhanupali PS, Khetrajpur PS, Ainthapali PS, Bareipali PS, and Sadar PS for the next 48 hours. “Section 144 has been enforced in all the six police station areas in this city. The sufficient police force is on the ground and the situation is under control,” said Additional SP, Tapan Mohanty. He added that an investigation is on to identify the persons responsible for the violence and they will be arrested soon. He added that the guilty will be nabbed soon.