Following clashes between two communities over allegations of cow slaughter during a religious celebration of a minority community, authorities imposed a curfew and suspended internet services in Balasore, a coastal town in Odisha, on Tuesday morning, according to police sources.
On Monday afternoon, clashes erupted between members of two communities in the sensitive area of Patrapada town. Tensions escalated when locals discovered red-colored water in drains, suspected to be animal blood. Allegations of cow slaughter by one group prompted confrontation from the other, triggering stone pelting that injured at least 15 individuals, including five policemen. In response, the district administration enforced Section 144 of the CrPC in the affected area.
The situation worsened late Monday night when members of one community attacked houses of another community in Golapokhari, Motiganj, and Cinema Chhak areas of the city. They used stones, sticks, and glass bottles, setting fire to vehicles. Miscreants also broke into several villages, pelting houses with stones, setting some on fire, and vandalizing roads. Police resorted to blank firing to restore control.