The Sambalpur district administration on Wednesday revoked curfew from two of the six police station areas in the violence-hit western Odisha city. The curfew that was imposed on 14 April following large-scale violence in the city during Hanuman Jayanti celebration has been lifted from the Sambalpur Sadar Police Station and Bareipali Police Station jurisdictions, an order issued by the district administration said.
However, curfew will continue to remain in force in four other police station areas: Sambalpur Town, Ainthapali, Dhanupali, and Khetrajpur, an official said. The administration, which suspended internet service in Sambalpur city on 13 April, restored the facility on 23 April.
This western Odisha city witnessed large-scale violence on two separate dates: 12 April, when there was a bike rally by the organisers of the Hanuman Jayanti, and later on 14 April, the day on which the main procession was held. A number of people, including 10 police personnel, were injured in the 12 April violence, and a large number of shops and business establishments were set on fire by mischief-mongers during the violence. The police have so far arrested nearly 100 people.
Meanwhile, a member of the National Scheduled Tribe Commission, Anata Nayak, visited the violence-hit city on Tuesday but could not meet the family members of the deceased tribal man who was killed on 14 April. A senior police officer said that additional armed forces would remain deployed in the city.
