Balasore: The Odisha Government has prohibited the use of social media in Balasore municipality area till 10 AM of June 20 in order to avoid any untoward incident in the wake of communal tension here on Monday.
An official notification has been issued by the Home Department in this regard.
“Miscreants are circulating false and inflammatory messages through social media to disturb the public order in Balasore municipality area. Messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and X have the potential to inflame communal tensions, thereby leading to acts causing disturbance of public order,” the notification reads.
Deoranjan Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home Department has ordered to prohibit the use and access of social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and X for 48 hours up to 10 AM on 20th June in Balasore municipality area.
The district administration has imposed curfew in Balasore municipality area, asking the residents to stay indoors and not to step out of their houses.
Earlier, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has appealed to different communities to maintain peace and harmony after the clash broke out between two groups in Bhujakhia Pir area.
As per reports, some residents of the Patrapada area after seeing blood flowing in a nearby drain, appealed to the local administration to stop the alleged slaughtering of animals as several religious places were located in close vicinity.
The residents later blocked the Chandipur-Balasore main road as the local administration allegedly failed to address their concerns.
Upon being informed, police and other officials of district administration reached the spot and tried to placate the protestors
Meanwhile, the situation soon got out of control after one of the groups resorted to stone pelting at the spot.
The violence prompted the district administration to impose Section 144 in the area from Banka Khajuri Square to Patrapada.
As many as five persons, including one Assistant Sub-Inspector, have reportedly sustained injuries in the clash.
The rioters also damaged more than 15 vehicles parked at the spot, reports added.