Bhadrak: With situation starting to return to normal, the State Government has resumed internet service in Bhadrak district today after a four-day shutdown of the service after violence erupted between two groups over an “objectionable” social media post.
The Home Department, initially, internet services were suspended for 48 hours, set to end at 2 am on September 30. On Sunday, it was extended for two more days to restore normalcy.
The local administration imposed indefinite prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in areas under Puranabazar police station to maintain order. Now, it has been partially relaxed and shops & other establishments have started operating during day time in the two violence hit towns of the district.
So far, 33 persons have been arrested in connection to the clash between two communities in Bhadrak.
In a bid to bolster security, two companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been dispatched from the Ministry of Home Affairs; one company has been deployed in Bhadrak town while the other is stationed in Dhamnagar.
In addition to the RAF, 10 platoons of Odisha Police have been stationed in Puranabazar area of Bhadrak town, with another five platoons assigned to Dhamnagar.
The RAF personnel conducted a flag march in both Dhamnagar and Bhadrak town on Sunday attended by the DIG, Bhadrak collector Dilip Routrai and SP Varun Guntupalli.