Curfew in Kendrapara town to be lifted at 6 AM tomorrow

Kendrapara: Following successful discussions during a peace committee meeting involving district administration, police and the conflicting groups, a decision has been taken to lift the curfew on Kendrapara town at 6 AM tomorrow.

Informing about the development, Kendrapara SP Niti Shekhar said that the curfew will be lifted tomorrow at 6 am and the next course of action will be decided after a flag march by the police.

Earlier today, the district administration had imposed curfew as a precautionary measure amid unrelenting tension in the town.

Despite enforcement of section 144 in the town since yesterday, two groups faced off against each other near Kali Mandir Chhak today morning. Reportedly, stones were pelted in during the clash following which police forces were deployed to bring the situation under control. The mob also scuffled with the cops, who were forced to resort to a mild lathi-charge.

"We have been forced to impose curfew in addition to Section 144 which was already in force in the Kendrapara Municipality area in view of some stray incidents of violence over the last two days," Kendrapara sub-collector Sanjay Kumar Mishra had said.

At present, around 14 platoons of police force have been deployed while three more platoons of police force and special officers from Cuttack have been roped in to strengthen policing, Mishra had added.

On Wednesday, the district administration enforced section 144 on the town amid palpable tension between two groups over organising a public event at Government High School ground.