Normalcy returns in tense Soro, Rourkela towns

BHUBANESWAR/BALASORE/ROURKELA: Police on Wednesday lifted night curfew from Soro town in Balasore district, which was on the boil since last week following communal tension. It coincided with Congress slamming the state government over the worsening law and order situation. They also handed a memorandum to the state governor S J Jamir and sought his intervention.
"We lifted the curfew in Soro as situation is returning to normalcy.But prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC (preventing assembly of five persons or more) still prevails," said Balasore SP Niti Sekhar.
Members of two communities clashed in Soro during an immersion ceremony of Ganesh idol ceremony on September 9. The town witnessed sporadic violence and arsoning. Several miscreants torched a few shops on Tuesday night despite the curfew. On Wednesday morning, police relaxed prohibitory norms under Section 144 for a few hours to facilitate immersion of idols, but without an fanfare.
On the other hand, mild tension prevailed in Rourkela, which too witnessed communal clash during Ganesh idol immersion ceremony on Monday night. However, the police claimed the situation is under control. "Although the situation is under control, Section 144 is still in force in the main road area of Rourkela city," said R K Sharma, IG (western range). Police said the situation at Pattamundai in Kendrapada district, which too witnessed communal tension on Monday, is normal.