Section 144 Imposed In 22 Kotia Villages

Koraput: The Koraput district administration today clamped prohibitory order under Section 144 of CrPC in 22 villages of Kotia panchayat in Koraput district.

According to sources, the restrictions have been imposed keeping in view the rising cases of Covid-19. It will remain in force from today 5pm to 6pm of April 9.

As many as 22 nodal officers empowered with Magistrate power to be on duty with deployed police force.

Awareness was created in these villages through loudspeakers and residents have been asked not to venture out of their houses if not essential.

The administration has also imposed complete ban on plying of vehicles in the 22 villages.

The move came soon after the Andhra Pradesh High Court cleared decks for the conduct of elections to the posts of Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad members on April 8. A Division Bench of the High Court today struck down the interim stay on the polls ordered by a single judge on Tuesday.

The Division Bench, however, ordered that counting of votes and declaration of results, scheduled for April 10, be not taken up till further orders.

In view of possibilities of the election, leaders from BJD, BJP and Congress camped in the region.

The leaders blocked road near Fatusineri Odisha-Andhra border protesting the election. They asserted that no voter from Odisha soil will be allowed to participate in Andhra elections.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)