Naveen, Dharmendra appeal people for peace in Bhadrak

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday appealed the people to maintain calm and peace in the communal violence-torn Bhadrak town.

Patnaik, who is on a five-day visit to New Delhi, appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony in the trouble-torn area.

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also appealed to people to maintain peace.

Pradhan said he has apprised the matter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

“Barring few incidents of shop looting and ransacking, there has been no large-scale violence or casualties reported so far. The overall situation is under control,” said DGP K.B. Singh.

Notably, violence had erupted in the town after objectionable comments on Hindu deities  were posted on social networking site. Mob had torched vehicles, houses and shops besides burning tyres on National Highway connecting Bhubaneswar and Kolkata to register their protest.

While prohibitory orders under Sec 144 of CrPc were clamped yesterday, the district administration today imposed curfew following fresh incidents of violence.