Bhubaneswar: Taking up the Sambalpur communal violence incidents to national-level, State BJP has sought intervention of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) demanding strictest action against the perpetrators.
Senior BJP leaders from Odisha including State President Manmohan Samal have written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking his urgent and immediate intervention into communal attacks on Hanuman Jayanti Procession at Sambalpur and deteriorating law and order situation thereof.
The BJP leaders informed Shri Shah about the precarious law and order situation and communal clashes in Sambalpur resulting from orchestrated violent attacks by members of certain community on the bike rally on the eve of Hanuman Jayanti on April 12 to 14, 2023.
The coordinated attacks have left various persons and dozens of policemen grievously injured, causing heavy loss to public property and torching of shops, vehicles, and private property, the party leaders said.
A tribal youth was killed by the mob on the day of Hanuman Jayanti (April 14) while dozens of civilians were injured that day. While Curfew remains in force; internet services across the district remain suspended till now, they said.
“The violence and arson in Sambalpur during the Hanuman Jayanti procession and a day before has exposed the poor intelligence network of Odisha police and its lack of foresight in ascertaining the consequences of inadequate security arrangement and ineptitude to follow the MHA Advisory issued on April 5, 2023 for Hanuman Jayanti,” read the letter.
Claiming that these attacks were pre-planned and organized, the saffron party leaders said the procession in Sambalpur was attacked at the same place where it was attacked during the last Hanuman Jayanti.
The police also admitted the communal riot was a well-planned conspiracy by the community. Police were aware of sensitivity and chose not to act appropriately, they alleged.
As reported by the Police themselves, there were open calls given for manslaughter, arson and anti-national nature during attack the violent mob like “Kafir log, Sale logo ko kaat denge”, “Salon ko India wapas nehi jaane denge”.
The BJP leader demanded the imposition of strict laws like UAPA and NSA against the perpetrators.
The situation in Sambalpur is a result of callous police administration, which despite the advisory of the Ministry of Home Affairs, preferred not to make adequate security arrangements for the bike rally on April 12 that was to pass through a sensitive area,” Shri Samal said in the letter.
“We are appalled by the biased and negligent attitude of the Government of Odisha in handling this incident. We wonder why the police did not arrest the conspirators beforehand, knowing their plot, especially when similar incidents have occurred in the past,” he said.
The BJP President further alleged that the conspirators have the backing of the ruling party of Odisha for their political motives. Instead, police have resorted to arrests of innocent members of the procession who are themselves victims of these attacks.
The administration has ignored their anti-national activities, such as building huge structures on government land and acquiring illegal weapons in their houses.
Strongly condemning this heinous act of communal violence, the saffron party demanded impartial investigation by NIA to unravel the hatched conspiracy, and strict action against the perpetrators. They also demanded adequate compensation and relief for them.
“We request you to intervene in this matter and direct the state government to take necessary measures to restore law and order, ensure communal harmony and prevent any recurrence of such incidents in the future. We will remain grateful for your timely intervention, and strictest action against the perpetrators,” they said.
