Suspension of internet services in strife-torn Sambalpur extended, 6 more arrested
Curfew relaxed from 7.30 am to 11.30 am and 3 pm to 6.30 pm
By Mahendra Darjee
Bhubaneswar, April 18 : Even though the situation is limping back to normalcy in violence-hit Sambalpur district in Odisha, the state government on Monday further extended the ban on the internet services for another 24 hours as a precautionary measure.
According to sources, the internet services have been suspended for another 24 hours till 10 am on Tuesday to prevent misuse of social media. Reports said the situation in the trouble-torn city is gradually limping back to normalcy which witnessed large-scale violence in the run-up to Hanuman Jayanti celebrations that began on April 12 evening.
Even though curfew has been clamped in several areas coming under the jurisdictions of six police stations, the prohibitory orders were relaxed for students and other aspirants of various recruitment examinations on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the police arrested six more for their alleged involvement in the Sambalpur violence that shook the city to the core during the Hanuman Jayanti celebrations. With this, the total number of arrests has gone up to 85.
Of these fresh six arrests, three were arrested in connection with the stone pelting incident that occurred on April 12 during the Hanuman Jayanti procession in the city and the rest three were apprehended in the shop vandalism incident that took place on April 14.
Sources said the arrests were made on the basis of the CCTV footage by the police.
In another development, Sambalpur district administration has relaxed the curfew from Monday. The administration took the decision to relax the curfew as the city started gradually limping back to normalcy.
The earlier 2-hour relaxation periods in the morning and evening for buying essentials have been extended. The curfew was relaxed from 7.30 am to 11.30 am and from 3 pm to 6.30 pm.
The administration took this decision keeping in view the inconvenience faced by the residents.
