Bhubaneswar, September 29: As many as 15 accused people have been arrested in connection with the recent communal violence in Bhadrak, Odisha, said Dr. Satyajit Naik, DIG of the Eastern Range on Sunday.
Dr.Naik, along with several other police personnel, conducted a flag march in the Puruna Bazar area today.
He also said that the Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed in the region to maintain peace.
"We are conducting a flag march, and area domination will be performed by the RAF. The entire situation is under control. Section 144 has been imposed in this area, so we are doing the flag march to dominate the area. We have already arrested 407 accused persons," informed DIG Dr. Naik
Naik added that two RAF companies have been deployed in Dhamnagar and Puruna Bazar.
The unrest was triggered by an objectionable social media post, leading to violent confrontations in Bhadrak. The prime accused responsible for the post has been arrested and is now in judicial custody, confirmed by Bhadrak SP Varun Guntupalli. Additionally, seven individuals involved in attacks on the police have also been apprehended.
In response to the violence, the Odisha government has suspended internet services in Bhadrak for 48 hours to prevent the spread of inflammatory messages on social media. This measure aims to maintain law and order by limiting the circulation of provocative content on platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and X.
The authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with further decisions on extending the internet suspension pending ongoing assessments.
