Timely intervention by police averted a communal clash on Sunday night after some mischievous elements from a community tried to create tension in sensitive Brahmabarada area under Dharmasala police limits in the district by attacking Kaudias (Bol Bam devotees) who were heading to Shiv temple to offer sacred water to the deity.
Enraged by the incident, the assaulted devotees staged a road blockade on Brahmani bridge at Brahmabarada on the same night demanding action against the attackers who belonged to minority community. Others joined the protest and blocked the road near Khandas chowk. Vehicular traffic on the road came to a grinding halt for over four hours.
As per reports, 13 Bol Bam devotees of Khandas village under Mangarajpur gram panchayat, accompanied by a vehicle fitted musical system playing devotional songs, were on their way to Nunupur Shiv temple with sacred water drawn from Gokarneswar ghat in Dharmasala when they were intercepted by a group of Muslim youths led by Hakani Bux near a Masjid at Chandpur in Brahmabarada on Sunday night.
The youths asked the devotees to stop playing the music near the Masjid which was objected by the latter. In retaliation, the youths attacked the Kaudias and threw their sacred water. The attackers even assaulted the driver of the vehicle and snatched his mobile phone and cash.
Following the incident, the news spread like wildfire and large number of people of both the communities started gathering near the bridge. On being informed, Jajpur SP sent ASP Rabi Narayan Behera to the spot. The ASP and Dharmasala police station IIC Sudarshan Das along with heavy police force had a tough time in maintaining law and order at the site. Behera assured the devotees of early action against the attackers. The in-charges of several police stations were called to the spot.
The police also stopped the people of Hindu community at Khandas crossing, which is considered as the boundary line of the locality of two communities. The gathering of people of one community continued to increase and they also raised slogans and sat on a dharna. Later, a peace committee of Brahmabarada comprising local leaders of both the communities held an emergency meeting in the presence of Jajpur sub-collector, ASP, DSP, Rasulpur Tehsildar at the Baruan bungalow on Wednesday to sort out the matter.
“A peace committee comprising 30 persons, 24 of both the communities and six administrative and police officials has been formed. They will sit just after Id-ul-Fitr as it is a major festival of the Muslims to sort out the matter. The two parties have agreed to maintain peace and harmony till then,” said Jajpur SP Deepak Kumar. Appropriate action will be taken against those found guilty in the incident, he said. However, Eid was celebrated peacefully in rest parts of the district.
Nabarangpur: Hundreds of people belonging to Muslim community took out a procession in the district headquarters town of Nabarangpur on Friday protesting against brutal killing of five Indian soldiers by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control.
After offering Eid prayer at the Masjid here, the Muslims holding the Tricolour and shouting slogans of ‘Hindustan Zindabad’ and ‘Pakistan Murdabad’ moved on the main road. The procession was led by N Ahamed, the government advocate and other senior office-bearers of the Masjid. After their procession, they submitted a protest letter to the sub-collector.
Jharsuguda: It was a day of peace and brotherhood on Friday as Hindus in many parts of the district came together to celebrate Eid. They visited the houses of their Muslim friends and greeted them on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Large congregations of Muslims were seen at mosques, Eidgahs and open grounds to offer prayer in Belpahar, Brajrajnagar and Jharsuguda towns. Many Muslims donated alms to the poor.