Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Soro, Sep 13:

Today being Id-ul-Zuha police after relaxing prohibitory orders clamped under section 144 CrPC from 8 AM to 2 PM in communally tense Soro town in Odisha’s Balasore district, again put it in force apart from reimposing dusk to dawn (6PM to 6AM) curfew, which it had imposed yesterday.

police deployed

“Now from 2PM till 6 in the evening section 144 CrPc will remain in force. As per the earlier condition assembly of five or more persons will not be allowed. However, from 6PM today till 6AM tomorrow, a curfew like yesterday will remain in force,” informed Balasore S P Niti Sekhar.

While tension was palpable, the town has been reduced to a fortress with the stationing of security personnel in each and every nook and corner to prevent any law and order situation.

A mass prayer was held at the Idgah grounds between 9 AM to 10 AM amid tight security.

Later in the afternoon, a meeting of the Peace Committee was held wherein it was decided to immerse the remaining Ganesh idols between 9-11AM tomorrow.  However, no processions will be allowed.

"Prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC will remain in force from 6AM to 8AM tomorrow. It will be relaxed between 8AM to 2PM. As per the decision taken at the Peace Committee meeting today it has been decided to immerse remaining idols of Ganesha between 9AM to 11PM. But processions have been strictly banned," informed Shekhar after the meeting.

While efforts are on to restore normalcy, as many as 15 persons have been arrested and cases have been registered against more than 100 persons in different police stations in six cases in connection with the group clash and violence during Ganesh idol immersion on Saturday.

It may be mentioned here that two groups had clashed on Saturday night at around 9 pm when immersion procession was passing through Pathan Mahalla in Soro market.

An altercation ensued between two groups followed by brick-batting, stone and bottle pelting in which at least five people were injured.

The incident had resulted in tension in the town. In order to restore normalcy, a meeting of the Peace Committee held on Sunday failed to resolve the issue.

Following violence police and paramilitary forces on Sunday conducted a flag march in the sensitive areas of the town where Section 144 of CrPC was imposed following the group clash.

Further, some miscreants set fire to tyre repair workshops and a poultry farm on Sunday night leading to the heightening of tension.