Kendrapara: District administration Wednesday clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in parts of this district headquarters town for an indefinite period following clashes between two groups of youths.
Tension mounted up in the afternoon as two groups were locked in a verbal duel over organisation of a function at the local government high school playground.
“The situation is under control. As a precautionary measure, Section 144 under CrPC prohibitory order was enforced at areas near the playground,” said sub-divisional police officer Ranjan Kumar Dey.
Two platoons of Odisha Swift Action Force (OSAF) have been deployed at the troubled areas in the town, said sources in the district administration.
According to sources, the trouble erupted when a group of youth clashed with another Wednesday while taking out a procession from Sishu Vidya Mandir of Santasahi to Government High School field as part of Veer Surendra Sai birth anniversary and Netaji Jayanti. Another group is reported to have opposed the meeting and claimed that the district administration does not accord permission to hold rallies or meetings at the spot. Consequently, tension prevailed in the area.
Acting on the information, Sub-Collector-cum-Sub Divisional Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Mishra rushed to the spot along with senior police officials. Sensing trouble at the spot, the SDM promulgated Section 144 CrPC in that part of the township . Later, when one of the groups returned from the spot without holding a meeting, the situation was brought under control. “Six platoons of police have been deployed at sensitive areas and patrolling has been intensified. We will organise a flag march if needed at night,” said SP Niti Sekhar.
The district administration and the police have convened a peace committee meeting. Urging the people to maintain peace, Sekhar requested the citizens not to believe in rumours and cooperate with the police.
The group which failed to hold a meeting at the High School grounds later organised a bike rally from Santasahi to the Old Bus Stand to protest the police action and against the other group for preventing them from celebrating the birth anniversary of Surendra Sai and Netaji Subash Chandra Bose. Fearing flare ups, the police closed down all business establishments in the Old Bus Stand area.
The Rasthriya Surakhya Manch has called for a 12-hour Kendrapara bandh with the support of the Sangh Parivar Thursday to protest the police inaction and against the group which created problems while they were celebrating Netaji and Surendra Sai birth anniversaries, said Sanjay Kumar Patri, the Sub-Coordinator of the Rasthriya Surakhya Manch.
In view of the proposed bandh and tension in the town, the district administration has declared Thursday a holiday for all government and private schools and colleges.
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