Barring a few stray incidents of skirmishes, the situation in Steel City remained by and large peaceful on Wednesday. However, normal life in the densely-populated Mango locality was completely paralysed as Section 144 of CrPC was imposed by the district administration in the city. Over 2,000 paramilitary forces personnel maintained strict vigil throughout the day to prevent any untoward incident and arrested 125 people so far.
Some miscreants attempted to torch a stationary auto-rickshaw at Munshi Mohalla on the Post Office Road in Mango this afternoon. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) jawans had to open three rounds of tear-gas shells to disperse the troublemakers. The State Government announced closure of schools in the city till Thursday.
Similarly, at Dhatkidih under the Bistupur police station area a group of local youths clashed with the police after police did not allow a gathering on the roadside as prohibitory order is in force. Roads wore a deserted look and shops and schools in the city were closed.
Security personnel from Jharkhand Armed Police, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), CRPF, Rapid Action Police, Quick Response Team and District Armed police have been deployed. CRPF, RAF and district police also carried out a flag march at Mango.
East Singhbum Deputy Commissioner Amitabh Kaushal said the prohibitory orders were being strictly implemented keeping in view the situation. "The situation is much better in the city now. The prohibitory order was relaxed between 1 pm and 5 pm at all the areas except Mango, Olidih, Azadnagar and MGM police station areas in Mango. The prohibitory order will be lifted only after assessment of the situation on Thursday," said Kaushal. He said the situation across the city is under control except some skirmishes in Munshi Mohalla in Mango, where the police had to open tear-gas shell to disperse a crowd.
The Deputy Commissioner, on being asked, said the prohibitory order was necessary in view of violent incidents in areas like Station Road and Sundernagar on Tuesday.
Those, who have to go to their workplaces in Tata Steel and Tata Motors, passed through checking by the policemen. A spokesman of the Tata Steel said that the attendance of workers was slightly affected on Wednesday as many, who reside at Mango areas, did not turn up.
Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police Anoop T Mathew said that the police are maintaining strict vigil and continuing to arrest the culprits involved in the violence at Mango and other parts of the situation, adding that the number of arrested persons has crossed 125. Communal clashes had broke out at Mango locality of late Monday night after a group of three bike-borne youths belonging to a particular community opened fire in the air at Gandhi Maidan in Mango where a fair was organised as part of Eid celebrations and allegedly tried to molest two girls near the Payal Cinema.