BHUBANESWAR/BHADRAK: With normalcy gradually returning to Bhadrak, the State administration restored Internet services on Tuesday evening but clamped evening curfew after a nine-hour relaxation during the day. Barring one incident of arson in Basudevpur on Monday night, no untoward incident was reported throughout the day.
At 7 am, the administration lifted the restrictions which remained relaxed till 4 pm. Educational institutions reopened while Government offices functioned as usual. Even banks functioned despite link failure due to shut down of Internet services.
Curfew will remain in force till 8 am on Wednesday after which the administration will take a call on the relaxation. Sources said there is unlikelihood of restrictions being taken off with immediate effect. The district administration has, however, directed medicine shops to remain open round the clock, RDC (Central) AB Ota said.
In fact, with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik slated to tour the communally-charged town on Wednesday, security will be beefed up further. At present, 38 platoons of State force and two sections of Central armed forces are deployed in Bhadrak town and neighbouring places.
While the entire day went off smoothly, Sabarpur in Basudevpur reported an incident of arson on Monday night. However, the miscreant was arrested immediately and tension was averted.
Meanwhile, deployment of security forces will continue well into next week. Sources informed that even during the BJP national executive meet which will be held during the weekend, deployment in Bhadrak will not be reduced.
‘’We will have to ensure that situation is completely normal before the additional layers are taken off,’’ official sources said. The Internet services, which were shut down for 48 hours, also brought to a halt the flow of hate mongering and helped restoration of normalcy.
Both Home Secretary Asit Tripathy and DGP KB Singh have returned from Bhadrak but ADG (Law and Order) Binayanand Jha is still camping there.
So far, 101 persons have been arrested in connection with arson and disturbances in the last six days. Huge volumes of loot materials have also been recovered while the local revenue officials have started making an assessment of the damage.
Meanwhile, a five-member team of VHP, headed by working president Dr Badrinath Patnaik, alleged that the communal flare-up was not an accident. Accusing local MLA and his son, senior member of VHP Aruna Panda questioned how the rally was allowed when prohibitory orders were still in force. He also demanded immediate suspension of the SP.
Patnaik alleged that Bhadrak Police has not investigated the case impartially. He demanded that the case be handed over to CBI.