Bhadrak/Hatadihi: The district administration Sunday clamped prohibitory order Section 144 of CrPC at Orali Square on the Bhadrak-Anandapur state highway bordering this district. The restrictions were imposed after two groups of villagers in the Bhadrak and Keonjhar districts clashed over a boundary dispute and renaming of the square, Saturday night. The development attracted attention after Sub Collector-cumSub-Divisional Magistrate (SDJM) Manoj Kumar Patra issued the prohibitory order. It will be in force within a 200-meter radius of Orali Square from 11.00 am April 16 till 11.00 am April 18.
A total of 10 persons were injured in the clash as hundreds of residents of Orali village under Hatadihi block in Keonjhar district allegedly attacked the inhabitants of Apanda village under Bont block in Bhadrak district and set fire to over 10 shops and several vehicles. Properties worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed in the arson.
On being informed, Bhadrak city DSP Anshuman Dwivedi, Bont’s additional tehsildar Binitarani Kisku and Bont IIC Aditya Prasad Jena reached the spot and took stock of the situation. Bont police also arrested six persons in the case. Anandapur MLA Bhagirathi Sethi, Bhadrak Zilla Parishad chairperson Prafulla Jena, Bont block chairperson Manoranjan Ghadei and a delegation led by BJP leader Badrinarayan Dhal reached the spot and held talks with the police officials. The leaders also urged people to maintain peace.
As per reports, the dispute was between the residents of Orali and Apanda villages over the renaming of the Orali Chowk. People of both villages have been at loggerheads over the demand to change the name of ‘Orali Square’ to ‘Apanda Square’. Sources said that the disputed ‘Orali Sqaure’ is on the fringes of Bont block of Bhadrak district and Hatadihi block of Keonjhar district.
A few days back, the Apanda RI had demarcated the boundary in the area and found that the ‘Orali Square’ falls under Apanda village in Bhadrak district. On this assessment, residents of Apanda village have been demanding the square be named as ‘Apanda’. The clash took place the inhabitants of Apanda locality tried to install a signboard renaming the place as ‘Apanda Square’ which was opposed by the Orali villagers. Palpable tension still prevails in the area as two platoons of police forces have been deployed in the area Sunday to maintain the law and order situation.