Shillong, April 13: Violence broke out during a motorbike rally in Sambalpur, Odisha, on Wednesday before Hanuman Jayanti, injuring at least 10 police officers, one of them was a woman.
Following the incident, Section 144 was imposed in each of the Sambalpur district’s six police station areas. Following the event, internet services were also halted in Sambalpur.
When stones were hurled at a motorbike rally that was taken out two days prior to Hanuman Jayanti, violence broke out. In Odisha the festival is celebrated on Maha Vishuva Sankranti, which falls on April 14.
Social media videos showed people throwing stones and rocks during the protest.
The violence, which started after stones were hurled at the motorbike rally in which about 1000 people participated, resulted in one makeshift shop being set on fire, numerous two-wheelers being set on fire, and several cars being damaged.
As per SP Tapan K. Mohanty, sufficient force has been deployed in the city’s critical areas.
Mohanty stated that the inquiry is ongoing and that nothing else can be divulged at this time when asked if anyone else who wasn’t a member of the police force had been hurt in the incident.
Pravas Chandra Dandasebna, a sub-divisional magistrate and sub-collector in Sadar Sambalpur, issued a notice prohibiting gatherings of more than two individuals.
A second superintendent of police, two inspectors, and several injured police officers were transported to a hospital.
