On Monday afternoon, two groups had clashed over hoisting of Ram Navami flag at a temple located in Baneikela market area in Joda town (Photo: Screengrab/OTV)
A day after a clash between two communities in the mining town of Joda in Odisha’s Keonjhar district, there was more violence Tuesday late night.
According to the police, two groups pelted each other with stones on Joda-Baneikala road, followed by a road blockade at Saheed Nagar Chhak in the area during which vehicles belonging to police and fire service were vandalised, prompting the officials to extend Internet suspension in the town till Thursday, officials said.
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“As many as 16 platoons of police force have been deployed. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC continue and Internet services will also remain suspended till Thursday. All educational institutions and shops have been shut,” Barbil sub-divisional police officer Himansu Behera said.
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Following the fresh clashes, the Keonjhar district police on Wednesday conducted a flag march in the locality. On Tuesday, the district police had called for a peace intervention between the two communities but only a handful of people turned up.
On Monday afternoon, two groups had clashed over hoisting of Ram Navami flag at a temple located in Baneikela market area, a Muslim-dominated Ward in Joda town.
According to the police, the permission to hoist a flag was denied Sunday late night, however, on Monday, around four people went to the Shiva temple where they were allegedly attacked by members of the other community. In the clash that ensued, around 10 people from both sides were injured.
No FIR has been filed in either case, police said.
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