The district administration has imposed Section 144-A CrPC with effect from Saturday before Hanuman Jayanti celebrations here. The administration has also banned display of arms during the Hanuman Jayanti procession or any other religious procession in the town to be held on April 14, the day of Mahabisuba Sankranti.
District Collector Balwant Singh apprehending communal disharmony has put such restriction during the religious procession by any community. Earlier, such restriction was also imposed on the Muslim community during the Muharram procession.
But leaders of the Hanuman Jayanti Committee had said they would not heed any restriction and there would be display of weapons like the previous years as it is part of the celebrations.Taking note of such statements, the administration finally imposed the prohibitory orders and banned display of weapons.
Additional SP of Sambalpur Sushil Kumar Panigrahi, at a media conference on Monday, informed the decision of the district administration. He also appealed to the members and officials of the Hanuman Jayanti Committees of different localities not to do anything that would disrupt the communal harmony.
Notably, at least 43 Paras (localities) and thousands of people take part in the Hanuman Jayanti procession and weapons are displayed during the celebrations.