Bhadrak, Apr 10: With the cyber team of Odisha Crime Branch reaching Bhadrak to investigate into Bhadrak violence, the administration has declared that all the educational institutions, banks and other offices in the district will be opening from tomorrow. The decision was announced even though today morning fresh violence happened at Bonth square, on the outskirts of the town by setting shops on fire following which curfew was re-imposed there and the periphery. Crime Branch special DG BK Sharma tweeted about the investigation. “Cyber team of Odisha Crime Branch is at Bhadrak to investigate spread of rumours in social media. A 7- member team of CB shall probe into all aspects related to circulation of rumours and objectionable materials in social media”. The tensed up situation is getting improved because of which the curfew has been shunned down for four hours for the second consecutive day since Apr 6. Normal lives have been started here from morning 8 am till 12 noon. The administration has informed that banks and Aahar centres are open here in the curfew relaxation period but all the educational institutions are closed. In the meantime, security forces have been keeping a strict vigilance here to tackle any untoward situation keeping in mind the prevailing tension. Two companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed along with 35 platoons of Odisha Police here. Stringent action are being initiated against persons breaking the discipline. Restrictions have been imposed on the use of social media here and the Inspector-In-Charge of Town Police Station, Jadunath Jena, has also been transferred. The Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has also apprised the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh about the Bhadrak situation during the Inter-State Council Meet in New Delhi.
This violence in town made normal life come to halt for the second consecutive day on Sunday even as the prohibition order was relaxed for a temporary period in the morning hour from 8 am to 11 am. The local residents had a harrowing experience while standing in long queue before the retails shops to purchase essential commodities. Durga Gupta, a resident of the town to pacify her crying kid appealed to the energy officials to restore electricity at the earliest and on the other hand another resident, Tilottama’s husband was thrashed by the police while he was returning from the market even during the hour of curfew relaxation. Milk is needed for the kids, but the milkmen were not available due to the shutdown.
Life of elderly people, especially ailing one, has been paralysed due to power disruption. Electric workers have toiled hard to restore normalcy. From kids to elderly or patients, all have to cover a long distance by walking to reach the railway station. The passengers, those have landed at Bhadrak station from outside, have distressing time.
To keep peace and calmness intact, peace processions were held across Odisha to restore peace. In Cuttack, a candle light march for bringing back peace in Bhadrak was organised under the leadership of actor-turned-MP Anubhav Mohanty on Sunday. The procession started from Cuttack Samaj office and culminated at Gouri Shankar Park. Cuttack-Barabati MLA Debasis Samantray along with other intellectuals also took part in the march. Mohanty stated to media that there is no difference between Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian as everyone are brothers and sisters and humanity is our caste and religion. Also Samantray added that this march is to send a message to all places in Odisha for restoring peace in Bhadrak soon and there should not be any politics taking the Bhadrak situation as an excuse. Apart from Cuttack, processions were also held in Chandabali in Bhadrak where youths, women and intellectuals from various communities gathered near Chandabali Mosque and started a candle march shouting slogans of Mother India. In the capital city, Utkal University students held a procession to restore peace in Bhadrak, the rally started from the Vice-Chancellor’s office to the University gate by holding placards carrying peace and brotherhood messages.
On the other hand, on Sunday, Odisha BJP held Bhadrak BJD legislator Jugal Kishore Patnaik and his son responsible for the ongoing unrest in the town and adjacent areas as the question was raised that how a rally coordinated by Jugal Kishore’s son was allowed here at a time when the peace committee meeting was on. The saffron party also demanded for the Bhadrak SP’s suspension and immediate arrest of the accused. Also a provision of compensation for the Bhadrak unrest victims towards property losses was also demanded. Though the Bhadrak legislator declined to comment on the charges, BJD spokesperson Amar Prasad Satpathy urged political leaders to stay away from comments which can complicate the situation.
To combat any further instigation of violence, the State government on Sunday blocked social media platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook for 48 hours here and adjacent areas and it has stopped working from 7 pm onward from Sunday. Also, the district administration set up control room for the convenience of residents and appointed Tihidi Inspector-In-Charge (IIC) Manoj Rout as the new Bhadrak Town IIC. A toll free number – 1077 – has also been issued along with a helpline number 06784-251881 for assisting people here.
