Violence in Odisha’s Sambalpur was alerted by SP Special Branch well ahead of Hanuman Jayanti rally

Bhubaneswar: Superintendent of Police (SP), Special Branch in Bhubaneswar had alerted Sambalpur SP and some of the departmental higher-ups through a letter in advance about the probability of violence during the much-debated Hanuman Jayanti rally taken out on Apr 12, which was dispatched on Apr 11 ahead of the religious procession.

The State agency had then asked the Sambalpur district police to remain ‘extremely alert’, the interoffice communiqué that surfaced today revealed.

“Learnt that, on 12.04.2023 at 3 PM the members (600) of Hanuman Jayanti Samanwaya Samiti (mostly from Bajrang Dal, VHP and BJP), Sambalpur led by Dr. Raj Kumar Badpanda (president), Samir Ranjan Baboo (secretary) and Rikan Pattnaik (nominee of MP Bargarh) have proposed to take out a bike rally from Govindtola Petrol Pump to Durga Mandir, Golbazar via Jail Chhak-Bhutapada, Motijharan-Razanagar-Sonapalli, Dhakauda-Sarla Chhak-Ashoka Talkies Chhak, Zilla School-Laxmi Talkies-Church Chhak, Ainthapali-GM College Chhak, Modipada Chhak, Kunjelpada-Bad Sadak-Municipality Chhak-San Sadak-Rastalia Chhak-Golbazar,” the Special Branch letter stated.

“They (600 members taking part in the rally) will move in about 300 bikes followed by a vehicle mounted with DJ and Loudspeakers. The procession will pass through Muslim-dominated areas like Bhutapada, Motijharan, Razanagar, Sunapalli, Kumbharpada and Daleipada. The rally will pass through mosques like Risala Masjid, Noorie Masjid, Salafi Masjid, Sadar Masjid and Mazar of Pirbaba. During the rally, the members of Hanuman Jayanti Samanwaya Samiti will raise slogans like ‘Jai Shri Ram’, ‘Jai Hanuman’ etc and play high-sounding DJ. In the meantime, Muslims are observing Ramzan festival. The rally time may coincide with the Namaz time of different Masjid en route. Any anti-Muslim slogan by the members of the rally or anti-Hindu slogan by the people of Muslim community may lead to communal tension. In view of recent communal tension in different parts of India, Law and Order situation may not be ruled out. Against the above backdrop, it is requested to remain extremely alert to the developing situations and necessary security measures/adequate precautionary measures as deemed proper may be taken to maintain Law and Order and communal harmony during the observance of these festivals. Necessary traffic arrangements may be made to regulate crowd/vehicular traffic. Adequate precautionary/ preventive measures may also be taken to avert any untoward incident during the observance of the festival. Police patrolling may be intensified in all communally sensitive areas to ward off any eventuality and to project police presence/visibility,” the letter read.

“Besides, MHA Guidelines-2008 communicated vide this Directorate Letter No-11656 C/SB Date-28.09.2016 may please be scrupulously followed to maintain communal harmony. Para (.) For Zonal DSP, SB, Sambalpur only. Zonal DSP, SB, Sambalpur is advised to sensitise their field staff on this score and keep the concerned District SP and Range IGP informed well in advance on possible Law and Order issues, if any, under intimation to this Office during observance of the festival. This may be treated as Most Urgent,” the letter mentioned.