Prohibitory orders imposed in Sundargarh’s Regent Market area after stone-pelting over beef storage rumors. Police deploy forces to restore peace and order
OdishaPlus Bureau
Prohibitory orders were enacted in the Regent Market area of Sundargarh town on Thursday, following communal unrest that resulted in significant stone pelting due to rumors regarding beef being stored in a residence.
During the subsequent violence, a pickup truck and several poultry shops were set ablaze, while at least six four-wheel vehicles sustained damage in the town. Numerous individuals, including a police officer, incurred injuries as two factions engaged in stone pelting.
According to sources, a mob assembled in the vicinity after the rumor about beef storage in a house near Regent Market circulated. Upon receiving the information, law enforcement arrived at the scene to conduct an investigation. However, stone pelting erupted unexpectedly around 2:30 PM and persisted for approximately two and a half hours.
Sundargarh collector Subhankar Mohapatra and SP Amritpal Kaur hurried to the location to assess the situation. Subsequently, DIG (Western Range) Brijesh Kumar Rai also arrived at the area affected by the violence.
The DIG stated that after the rumor regarding beef storage spread, the Town police promptly proceeded to the site for verification. Nevertheless, some troublemakers within the crowd initiated stone pelting. One pickup truck and two shops were destroyed, while several vehicles suffered partial damage. One police officer was injured during the unrest.
Rai mentioned that 10 platoons of police forces have been deployed, and patrolling in Sundargarh town has been intensified. The district administration has enforced prohibitory orders under section 163 of the BNSS in the Regent Market area to avert further escalation. Additionally, the administration has mandated the closure of shops and markets in the vicinity as a precautionary measure, permitting only emergency services to operate.
“The situation is tense, but it remains under control. The administration is closely monitoring the situation. The Sundargarh collector and SP are overseeing developments. Preventive actions to curb the spread of rumors on social media platforms will also be implemented if necessary,” he added. The collector indicated that a peace committee, consisting of representatives from both communities, would convene soon to restore social harmony.