BHUBANESWAR/SAMBALPUR: After remaining on boil following large scale violence during Hanuman Jayanti processions on April 12 and 14, Odisha's Sambalpur city did not witness any skirmish in the last 48 hours with the district administration on Sunday deciding to partially relax the curfew on Monday.
"We are watchful of the situation, which is now fully under control. No violence or untoward incident was reported since April 14. On Monday, the curfew time will be partially relaxed from 7.30 am to 11.30 am and from 3.30 pm to 6 pm. Internet services will be shut till 10 am on Monday. We have started discussing with various stakeholders, including the business and local communities to restore peace in Sambalpur," Sambalpur district collector Ananya Das said.
Ananya said work on the assessment of property damage in the violence has also started. She said residential houses were not affected much as compared to commercial stores.
Additional chief secretary Satyabrata Sahu visited Sambalpur on Sunday to take stock of the situation. He held several rounds of meetings with the district collectors and police.
Director general of police Sunil Kumar Bansal said all those involved in the violence will not be spared. “Our priority is now to restore complete peace in Sambalpur. No violence has been reported since Friday, signalling restoration of peace. If the same situation persists, the curfew will be completely lifted in a day or two,” Bansal said.
The DGP along with additional director general (law and order) R K Sharma and director (intelligence) Sanjeeb Panda have been camping in the strife-torn western Odisha city since Saturday.
Sambalpur SP, B Gangadhar said altogether 79 people have already been arrested so far. “While 26 people were arrested in connection with the stone pelting incident during a bike procession on April 12, 53 others have been taken into custody for violence and arson during the procession on April 14,” Gangadhar said. He said the violence appeared to be pre-planned.
Meanwhile, union minister Giriraj Singh, who was here on Sunday, came down heavily on the state government for failing to handle the riot. “It is unfortunate that the state government has been adopting an appeasement policy while dealing with the case. The state government is shielding those, who sparked and fomented the violence,” Singh said.
Senior BJD MLA Amar Satpathy asked Singh to refrain from politicising the sensitive issue. “It is unfortunate to hear such remarks from a union minister. The state government has taken prompt action as per the law,” Satpathy said.
