Police on Saturday held a flag march in Bhadrak town to boost the confidence of the locals which was shaken after the violent communal incidents on Friday. The curfew which was imposed was still in force till Sunday morning.
Fifteen platoons of police along with Vajra riot control vehicle led by ADG Binayananda Jha started the flag march from the Town police station and went round the town. The police arrested 35 people from both the groups and seized nine motorcycles.
More than 28 fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the fires set in different parts of the town. After the peace committee meeting had failed on Friday evening, violent mobs went on a rampage and many shops of both the communities were set ablaze. After the situation turned uncontrollable, the district administration imposed curfew.
Home Secretary Asit Tripathy and DGP KB Singh were still camping in Bhadrak and supervising the security arrangements.
DGP Singh said that the situation was now under control. “We have extended the curfew period from 6 am to 8 am in view of the situation. We have deployed 35 platoons of police. Many senior officials are also present,” he informed.
Meanwhile, due to the curfew there was gross shortage of essential commodities as people could not get out of their homes and all the shops had downed their shutters. The commuters arriving from other parts of the State and the country had a miserable time as no transport was available to take them to their destinations.
The patients and their attendants at the District Headquarters Hospital and other hospitals had a harrowing time as food was not available in the hospital and the medicine distribution counters were locked due to the curfew. The doctors and nurses had to come by foot to the hospital due because of the curfew. The examinations scheduled to be held at the Bhadrak College were suspended till Wednesday.
However, the situation though under control continued to be tense. The police, however, hoped the Saturday night would pass off without any untoward incidents. But the residents were jittery despite the heavy police presence.