Rourkela, July 15: The district administration has imposed prohibitory orders in the city from last night following communal tension, which erupted over the alleged circulation of an objectionable text and picture against a particular community.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has called for a dawn-to-dusk Rourkela bandh tomorrow demanding an impartial inquiry into the incident and stringent action against the culprits. BJP state secretary Dhiren Senapaty said: "My party is going to support the bandh call declared by Viswa Hindu Parishad."
A peace committee was convened by the district administration to maintain peace in the city. Sundargarh district collector B.S. Punia said all possible efforts were taken to maintain peace in the city and adequate police forces had been deployed to prevent any untoward incident.
Local additional district magistrate Manisha Banarjee said: "The meeting was fruitful as all parties have promised to maintain peace and harmony."
However, BJP boycotted the peace committee meeting.
Director General of Police K.B. Singh said the situation was under control and no further untoward incident had been reported.
Following the imposition of prohibitory orders, the major business centres of the city remained closed today. Some of the schools, government agencies and other commercial establishments were also closed. Roads wore a deserted look in most parts of the city today.
The prohibitory orders remained in force from the Ambedkar Chhak at Uditnagar upto Madhusudan Marg, a two-km stretch, which is home to the main business establishments of the city. However, business establishments downed their shutters in other areas also.
While life and business remained normal in the captive township of Rourkela Steel Plant, tension was palpable near Uditnagar, daily market, Mahatab Road and Madhusudan Marg. There were heavy deployment of security forces in some of the sensitive areas.
Rourkela police superintendent Anirudh Singh said: "We have deployed 25 platoons of forces, which also include the Central Reserve Police Force. Besides, the Special Operations Group personnel have also been kept on standby."
