Internet Ban Extended in Odisha’s Malkangiri Dist Amid Ongoing Tensions over Severed Head Recovery

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has extended the suspension of social media and internet services in Malkangiri district for another 24 hours, until 12 PM on December 11, following the recovery of a severed head linked to a gruesome murder that sparked communal clashes.

The restrictions, affecting platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), mark the third consecutive extension. The initial ban was imposed on December 8 for 24 hours, followed by an 18-hour extension on December 9, and now this latest 24-hour prolongation due to the persistent sensitive law-and-order situation.

The decision comes after police recovered the severed head of a 51-year-old tribal woman, identified as Lake Podiami from Rakhelguda village, on Wednesday. The head was found near a riverbank close to a Kanya Ashram in the area, approximately 15-40 km from where her headless torso was discovered on December 4 in the Poteru river.

The murder has fueled violent clashes between tribal residents of Rakhelguda and Bengali settlers in nearby MV-26 village, resulting in damage to around 160-200 houses, some set on fire. Prohibitory orders remain in force in the affected villages, with heavy deployment of Odisha Police and Border Security Force personnel to maintain order.

A peace committee meeting on December 9 involving representatives from both communities had offered temporary relief, with agreements to restore harmony. However, the latest recovery prompted authorities to extend the internet curbs to prevent the spread of inflammatory messages.