The ghost of Panki communal fracas has refused to die down as right from the DC Palamu A Dodde down to the SP Palamu Chandan Kumar Sinha the members of the peace committee, Akhara members, Mahavir Nav Yuvak Dal and Muharram Inteezamiya were repeatedly asked at the district level peace committee meeting to give peace and harmony a big hand keeping in mind how Panki convulsed communally and how till date people there are feeling the heat of law.
The two officers asked people to take a lesson from Panki and remain alert to save peace and harmony by all means.
This district peace committee meeting was different in many ways where the administration gave full ears to disputes raised by the members. Peace rhetoric was shunned.
There came up issues of licence, routes, Shobha Yatra etc. All were taken care of. The tone of the administration was tough but not intimidating.
Order to lodge FIRs against the members of the two communities were given in this district level peace meet which had jeopardized the harmony.
There would be no mercy for the tipplers as police were asked by the DC to put them behind the bars after following due process of alcohol check.
At the end there was a line drawn. Durga Johri tried to prevail upon the administration that Ramnavmi procession rolls out only after 11 at night while the administration wants all festivities to be packed up by 10 at night.
If Johri stood to his demand for night long rolling of the Ramnavmi procession, the DC just alluded to the order of the Apex court and High Court asking all festive activities to be shut by 10 at night.
There was a simmering discontent over this among the members of the Akharas and the Mahavir Nav Yuvak Dal.