The Odisha government has announced a 48-hour internet shutdown in Bhadrak district following violent communal clashes sparked by controversial social media posts.
The decision, communicated through a notification from the Home Department on Saturday morning, aims to curb the spread of inflammatory messages and restore peace in the region.
The notification reads, “In order to prevent the spread of inflammatory and motivated messages in the media to disturb the public order in Bhadrak district and restore peace and amity, the Home Department hereby extends the prohibition of the use and access of Social Media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, X and any other through the Internet and other media of data services for 48 (forty eight) hours up to 0200 September 30, 2024 in Bhadrak district.”
What Sparked The Unrest?
Tensions escalated on Friday afternoon in the Puruna Bazar police station area of Bhadrak when members of a specific community protested violently in response to a controversial post on Facebook.
The situation rapidly deteriorated, leading to road blockades and the burning of tyres at Santhia.
During the protests, three police officers, including the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) for Bhadrak city, were injured due to stone-pelting by the demonstrators.
Eyewitness reports indicate that the protesters, enraged by the social media post, initially organized a rally demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible for the content.
Local police and district officials quickly responded to the unrest, attempting to calm the situation.
However, the crowd became increasingly aggressive, resulting in stone-throwing directed at law enforcement.
Protesters also vandalized the vehicle of the Bhadrak Tahsildar.
In an effort to control the escalating violence, authorities deployed ten platoons of police forces along with three senior officers to the area.
Police conducted a flag march to reinforce their presence and maintain law and order.
As the situation remains tense, local officials are closely monitoring developments to ensure community safety and prevent further clashes.
The internet shutdown aims to mitigate the risk of misinformation and further unrest in Bhadrak district during this critical period.
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