Internet services suspended for 48 hours, 26 detained in Sambalpur over Hanuman Jayanti violence
Sambalpur (PTI): The Odisha government suspended internet services in Sambalpur district for 48 hours from 10 AM of Thursday even as prohibitory order was in force after violence broke out during the Hanuman Jayanti rally, an official said.
At least 10 police personnel including a woman cop were injured in the violence. However, police were yet to disclose the number of civilians injured in the incident.
The administration clamped prohibitory order under section 144 CrPC in areas coming under six police stations - Town, Dhanupali, Khetrajpur, Ainthapali, Bareipali and Sadar - in Sambalpur city.
"The situation is critical and miscreants are circulating false and inflammatory messages through social media to disturb public order in Sambalpur district," the notification issued by Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, DK Singh, prohibiting internet use and access in Sambalpur, said.
Singh said internet is suspended to prevent circulation of "inflammatory and motivated messages", which have the "potential to inflame communal passion".
No access to social media WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & . Suspension of internet/data services of all MSPs & ISPs and Broadband dial up system", the notification said.
Sambalpur SP B Gangadhar said that 26 people have so far booked under different sections of the IPC. They will be forwarded to the court.
The SP said 20 platoons of police force have been deployed in the area.
Asked whether it was a conspiracy, the SP said: "We think it is a sporadic incident. Investigation is going on. The situation is now under control."
The SP said the policed have also seized petrol bombs from some people. He said police will soon conduct flag march in sensitive areas.
Gangadhar said a meeting will soon be convened on whether to allow the Hanuman Jayanti celebration and procession scheduled to be held on Friday.
Violence erupted on Wednesday evening when stones were allegedly thrown at the bike rally taken out out to celebrate the Hanuman jayanti. Every year a bike rally and a ritual Jhanda Sthapana' are organised prior to Hanuman Jayanti in the city. During the violence some shops and several two-wheelers were set on fire while a number of cars were damaged.
Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated in Odisha on Maha Visuba Sankranti which falls on Friday this year.
A majority of places in the city wore deserted look as most of the shops remained closed.
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Syria says Israeli strikes leave 18 dead in the biggest toll since the war in Gaza began
Masyaf (Syria), Sep 9: The number of people killed in overnight Israeli strikes in Syria has risen to 18 with dozens more wounded, Syria's health minister said on Monday — the largest death toll in such an attack since the beginning of the war in Gaza.
One of the sites targeted was a research centre used in the development of weapons, a war monitor said. Syrian officials said civilian sites were targeted.
Israel regularly targets military sites in Syria linked to Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah. Those strikes have become more frequent as Hezbollah has exchanged fire with Israeli forces for the past 11 months against the backdrop of Israel's war against Hamas — a Hezbollah ally — in Gaza.
However, the intensity and death toll of Sunday night's strikes were unusual.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of war-torn Syria in recent years, but it rarely acknowledges or discusses the operations. The strikes often target Syrian forces or Iranian-backed groups.
Israel has vowed to stop Iranian entrenchment in Syria, particularly since Syria is a key route for Iran to send weapons to Hezbollah.
Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires, Syrian state news agency SANA said.
Speaking to reporters, Syrian Health Minister Hassan al-Ghabbash described the strikes as a “brutal and barbaric aggression”. He said the death toll had risen to 18 with nearly 40 wounded.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, said 25 were killed, including at least five civilians, while the others included Syrian army soldiers and members of Hezbollah and other Iran-linked armed groups.
One strike targeted a scientific research centre in Masyaf, and others struck sites where “Iranian militias and experts are stationed to develop weapons in Syria”, the observatory said. It said the research centre was reportedly used for developing weapons, including short- and medium-range precision missiles and drones.
Minister of Electricity Mohammad al-Zamel said the strikes had caused “truly significant” damage to water and electricity infrastructure.
“This brutal attack targeted civilian targets, and the martyrs were mostly civilians, as were the wounded,” he said.
Local media also reported strikes around the coastal city of Tartous, which the observatory said were the result of air defense missiles falling.
On Monday afternoon, a charred car remained at the scene of one strike and smoke was still rising from some spots where fires had been put out.
