SAMBALPUR: Sambalpur Police on Monday served notices on 70 persons in the city under Section 107 of CrPC and asked them to submit undertakings to Executive Magistrate to maintain peace during Hanuman Jayanti rally by members of Hanuman Jayanti Samanwaya Samiti.
As Hanuman Jayanti will be celebrated on Wednesday, Sambalpur Police have taken the step to maintain law and order during the rally that forms an integral part of the celebration. Recently, members of Hanuman Jayanti Samanwaya Samiti had announced to display arms and weapons during the Hanuman Jayanti procession here by the ‘akhadas’.
Last year, the district administration had banned display of arms on the ground that it is not even allowed during Muharram procession. Prohibitory orders were also clamped. The administration had reasoned that as display of arms can lead to law and order problem, the Samiti should refrain from displaying them during the procession. However, members of the Samiti had defied the prohibitory order and former minister Jayanarayan Mishra was arrested for wielding sword during the rally.
Sambalpur SP Akhileshwar Singh said display of arms and weapons will be prohibited during the procession this time as well. He informed that 10 committees under the Samiti have given in writing that they will not display weapons during the procession and action would be taken if anybody is found violating the condition.
Around 30 committees will join the procession which would begin from Hanuman temple near Zilla School Chhack and culminate at Peer Baba Chhack. To maintain law and order, 27 platoons of security personnel would be deployed across the city. At least 10 DSPs, 122 SIs and Assistant SIs, 82 constables and 192 Home Guards will also be deployed.
President of the Samiti Prabhat Panda condemned the police action. Apparently, the notice has also been served on Panda. He said display of weapons has been a part of the ‘akhada’ tradition since 1992. Meanwhile, the Samiti members took out a motorcycle rally in the city on Monday morning.