Curfew imposed in Odisha's Balasore; 34 persons detained, 7 FIRs registered

Balasore (Odisha) [India], June 18 : A curfew has been imposed in the Balasore district of Odisha till the next order after a clash between two groups on Tuesday morning.
Initially, the administration had imposed Section 144 but later the decision was changed to impose the curfew.
"A curfew has been imposed in Balasore town. The situation is under control. 34 people have been detained and more than 7 FIRs registered. The Internet has been shut down for the next 48 hours," SP Balasore Sagarika Nath said..
As of now, the situation is under control. The police team has detained 34 individuals and after further investigation, their arrest procedures will continue.
Also, more than seven FIRs have also been registered in this regard.
According to a notification issued by Deoranjan Kumar Singh, the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government in the Home Department ordered the suspension of internet and access to social media platforms for 48 hours till June 20, in the Balasore district.
The decision has been taken to restore peace and amity in the Balasore Municipality.
The notification has been circulated to all Mobile Service Providers/Internet Service Providers (ISPs) for immediate compliance under intimation to this Department.
The notification from the state Home Department reads, "The situation is critical and miscreants are circulating false and inflammatory messages through social media to disturb the public order in Balasore Municipality Areas and whereas messaging platforms like WhatsApp, FaceBook, X, and other such media, etc have the potential to inflame communal tensions thereby leading to acts causing disturbance of public order in Balasore Municipality Areas."
"Now, therefore, in order to prevent the spread of such inflammatory and motivated messages to circulate in the above-mentioned media to disturb the public order in Balasore Municipality Areas and restore peace and amity, I, Sri Deoranjan Kumar Singh, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home Department hereby prohibit the use and access of social media platforms like WhatsApp, FaceBook, X, and any other through the internet and another medium of data services for 48 hours for upto 10 am till June 20, 2024, in Balasore Municipality Areas under the provisions of Section 5 (2) of Indian Telegraph Act 1885 read with Rule 2(1) of The Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency/ Public Safety) Rules, 2017."
Speaking with ANI, the Superintendent of Police of Balasore, Sagarika Nath said, "The curfew has been imposed to control the communal tensions which occurred on Monday between two groups. Initially, we had imposed only Section 144, but later we changed it to curfew. The public has been prohibited from moving out of their houses and we hope they will cooperate with us. We appeal to them to maintain peace and law and order in the area."
"The curfew will be imposed for an indefinite time. As of now, the Internet has also been suspended in the area for 48 hours. Based on the situation, further actions will be taken. Now, the situation is under control. 34 individuals have been detained by the police and after further investigation, their arrest procedures will continue. More than seven FIRs have also been registered and legal actions will be taken accordingly. The administration will definitely take stricter actions against the accused."