Odisha requests Centre for four RAF companies in wake of communal tensions

The four companies of the RAF may be directed to report to the superintendent of police, Bhadrak district, as early as possible.

BHUBANESWAR: As a curfew remained in force in the town of Bhadrak which witnessed communal violence over alleged abusive remarks on social media against Hindu deities, the State government on Saturday requested the Centre to deploy special forces to tackle the situation.

Seeking the Centre’s intervention, chief secretary AP Padhi requested Union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi for immediate mobilisation of four companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) in the coastal town to assist the State police force stationed there.

"Bhadrak town is prone to communal incidents given our past experience. Though State police have been deployed to control the situation, we need reinforcements of specialised forces to tackle communal violence," Padhi said in his letter to Rajiv Mehrishi.

The four companies of the RAF may be directed to report to the superintendent of police, Bhadrak district, as early as possible.

Maintaining that the Bhadrak district administration has taken all possible measures to bring the situation under control and maintain communal harmony, Padhi said the curfew has been imposed to prevent further escalation of tension.

The chief secretary who is monitoring the situation from the State secretariat further informed Rajiv Mehrishi that the situation is still tense, and Principal Secretary for Home, Asit Tripathy and Director General of Police (DGP) KB Singh are camping at Bhadrak to closely monitor the situation.

Earlier on Saturday, Union minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan talked to Union home minister Rajnath Singh and informed him about the Bhadrak situation.

Assuring all possible help to the Odisha government for normalcy, Pradhan said the Union home secretary informed him about deploying two companies of central security forces to the affected district.

Darmendra Pradhan appealed to chief minister Naveen Patnaik to take all lawful measures to keep the social fabrics intact in the town. He also appealed to the people of Bhadrak to maintain peace and harmony.

Darmendra Pradhan refused to comment on the remarks of BJD MP Tathagat Satpathy that a national party is responsible for the communal tension in Bhadrak. There is no need to give importance to his (Satpathy's) remarks as he is not taken seriously by his own party, Darmendra Pradhan said.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com