JAGATSINGHPUR: At least four youths were arrested by Jagatsinghpur police for assaulting policemen on duty and ransacking patrolling vehicle during an immersion procession of Ganesh idol at Sanpur village on Saturday night. They have been identified as Suryakant Muduli, Chandrasekhar Behera, Mantu Rout and Swpnajit Swain. The youths took out the procession for immersion of Ganesh idol at Sanpur village on Saturday night without taking permission from the police. They even used disc jockey (DJ) sound system and high decibel music above permissible limit. Being informed, police rushed to the spot and banned the use of DJ system.
Irate youths then pelted stones at the police jeep and assaulted the policemen. Later, a case was registered against the youths who attacked policemen. They were arrested and forwarded to local court. In another incident, a clash erupted between two groups of villagers at Deuligramsewar under Jagatsinghpur police station limits during immersion of Ganesh idol on Saturday night.
At least six persons sustained injuries as the two groups hurled bombs at each other. Later, police arrested two persons in this connection. Meanwhile, locals alleged that despite a ban on use of high decibel sound by the Supreme Court, the DJ system, rampantly used during immersion, marriage and other processions, has turned out to be a nuisance for residents. It is high time the district administration strictly enforces the ban on such celebrations as there are always chances of celebrations turning violent, feel residents.
In 2005, the Supreme Court had banned the use of DJ system and set permissible limit at 55 decibels (dB) during day time and 45 dB in the night under Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986. Doctors opine that exposure to noise above 85 dB can damage eardrums while DJ sound system produces over 120 dB.