Odisha: 20 Detained Over Bhadrak Violence, Curfew to Remain

Curfew remained in force in the town, while prohibitory orders were imposed in nearby Dhamnagar and Basudevpur areas of Odisha on Saturday morning, after the town witnessed violence over alleged abusive remarks on social media against Hindu deities Rama and Sita.

About 20 people have been detained in connection with the violent incidents which left several shops gutted and vehicles damaged. About 1,100 police personnel, deployed across the town, have been patrolling the sensitive localities, police said.

All entry and exit points have been sealed and nobody is allowed to enter the town or move out, they said.

The violence-hit town wore a deserted look as shops, business establishments, educational institutions and other organisations remained closed.

While additional force was also deployed in Bhadrak, where curfew will remain in force till Sunday morning, prohibitory orders were imposed in Dhamnagar and Basudevpur on Saturday morning as a precautionary measure to prevent spread of violence, a police official said.

Senior officials including Home



Secretary Asit Tripathy and Director General of Police KB Singh have been camping in Bhadrak to monitor and supervise operations to restore peace and normalcy in the town.

A close vigil is on, the DGP said and added that the situation was now under control after some violent incidents took place in the town, but there was no group clash or deaths.

A host of leaders, including Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, said stringent action would be taken against the troublemakers.

Violence had erupted in Bhadrak on Thursday after a group of angry people, including youth members from Bajarang Dal, VHP and Sri Ramnavami Committee, staged demonstration near the town police station, demanding immediate arrest of those involved in posting offensive remarks against Hindu deities on social media.

Though the district administration clamped prohibitory orders, tension persisted and fresh violence broke out on Friday after a peace meeting convened by the administration to restore normalcy and maintain communal harmony failed to yield result.