Police in Sundargarh have arrested six people on Saturday in connection with the communal tension that rocked the town’s Regent Market area earlier this week. The arrests come as authorities attempt to pivot back to normalcy following a violent face-off between two groups on Thursday over "suspicious food items".
Sundargarh SDPO Nirmal Mohapatra confirmed the arrests and noted that the hunt is still on for others caught on camera or identified during the stone-pelting. While 12 people — including a few police officers — were injured in the initial chaos, the town has since seen a significant de-escalation in tension.
The district administration, which had clamped down hard with prohibitory orders and an internet blackout on Thursday night, lifted most of the restrictions by Friday evening. By Saturday morning, the town looked largely like its old self again, with shops, markets, and schools reopening for the first time since the clash.
Despite the return of daily life, the police aren't taking any chances. Around 20 platoons of police personnel remain stationed at key intersections and sensitive pockets across the western Odisha town to ensure no fresh sparks ignite. "The situation is normal now, but we are keeping a very close watch," Mohapatra told reporters, urging residents to stay calm and ignore rumors as the investigation continues.
Also read: Curbs imposed in Sundargarh after clashes over ‘beef’ sale
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