Bhadrak communal tension: Trouble-mongers to be dealt with iron fist, says Odisha Law Minister

Miscreants trying to circulate misinformation using social media will be dealt with an iron fist, said Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Saturday. 

His statements came against the backdrop of Bhadrak communal violence reportedly triggered by a social media post on Friday. 

He also said that political powers trying to fish in troubled waters won’t be allowed to do so any longer. 

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“The process of quelling the situation has already started. There are some miscreants trying to circulate misinformation through social media and some political powers are also meddling with an intention to create disturbance. But, they can’t do that. The government will nip them in the bud,” said the Law Minister. 

Yesterday, a controversial social media post allegedly triggered tension near Santhia in the Bhadrak district. When a group was taking out a rally opposing the post and demanding immediate arrest of the person behind the post, the police intervened and tried to pacify them. But the situation only turned uglier with stones being pelted at police, injuring three senior police officials. Bhadrak tehsildar’s vehicle also suffered damages in the skirmish.

Later in the day, the SP informed that the person behind the controversial social media post which triggered tension was arrested from Bhadrak.

(Reported by Swati Jena)