Internet services will remain suspended in Sambalpur for the next 48 hours and curfew has also been imposed for 48 hours after overnight sporadic violence and death of a person under mysterious circumstances. The violence took place on Friday evening after a Hanuman Jayanti procession was held amid tight security.
Collector Sambalpur Ananya Das said, “All shops, schools and colleges will remain closed. Curfew will be relaxed from 8-10 am and 3:30 pm to 5 pm.”
Odisha Director General of Police Sunik K Bansal said more forces have been deployed in Sambalpur and senior officers are monitoring the situation.
He appealed to the people to cooperate with the administration and ensure that peace is restored in the western Odisha city at the earliest. The state home department, in an official order, said that access to internet and data services including WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and other social media will remain suspended till 10 am on April 17.