SME Times News Bureau | 24 Mar, 2018
In view of the communal tension
last year during the Ram Navami celebrations, the district
administration in Odisha's Bhadrak on Saturday suspended internet
services for next two days in a bid to maintain law and order.
Internet
services were suspended for 48 hours starting from 6 p.m. on Saturday
to prevent misuse of social media and maintain communal harmony during
Ram Navami celebrations.
"The internet services were snapped as a
precautionary measure to maintain communal harmony ahead of Ram
Navami," said Bhadrak Superintendent of Police Anup Sahu.
He said as many as 50 platoons of police personnel have been deployed in the town for the smooth conduct of the festival.
Internet
providers were asked to stop their services so that rumour mongers
cannot operate social media platforms which help in fanning communal
tension.
The Orissa High Court has directed the state government
and the district administration to take adequate measures to prevent any
untoward incident and ensure that there was no communal tension during
the procession and performance of other related rituals on the
auspicious day.
Communal tension between Hindus and Muslims
erupted in the district headquarters during the Sankirtan procession on
the occasion of Ram Navami in April last year and after derogatory
remarks against Hindu gods being posted on social media. Police had
arrested over 150 persons over the incident.
