BJP's Odisha unit seeks NIA probe into Sambalpur violence during Hanuman Jayanti

 The Odisha unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, requesting him to direct an inquiry by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the violence that erupted during the Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in Sambalpur, western Odisha. In the letter signed by BJP's state unit president Manmohan Samal, the party urged the Centre to direct the state government to take necessary measures to "restore law and order in Sambalpur" and ensure "communal harmony" in Sambalpur.

The BJP's state leadership condemned the communal violence and demanded an impartial investigation by the NIA to expose the conspiracy behind the incident and strict action against the perpetrators. The saffron party alleged that the law and order situation has deteriorated in Sambalpur following clashes "due to the orchestrated violent attack" on a motorcycle rally two days before the Hanuman Jayanti on April 14.

The BJP claimed that the coordinated attack on the bike rally had left several persons, including some policemen, grievously injured. The incident also led to torching of shops, vehicles, and private properties in Sambalpur. The saffron party also alleged that a tribal youth was killed and several others were injured in another attack by a mob in Sambalpur on April 14, the day Hanuman Jayanti was celebrated.

The violence and arson during the Hanuman Jayanti procession and a day before have "exposed the poor intelligence network of the Odisha Police and the lack of foresight on its part to ascertain the consequences of inadequate security arrangement during the festival," the BJP leaders said in the letter. The administration has clamped the curfew in Sambalpur soon after the incidents and suspended internet services in the locality.

The BJP leaders urged the Centre to ask the state government to take immediate steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in Odisha in the future. The party also claimed that the Odisha Police has miserably failed to follow the advisory issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs for smooth organization of Hanuman Jayanti processions.

As per an FIR lodged by the police, around 200 people of a particular community armed with swords, iron rods, and sticks attacked the motorcycle rally on April 12. The police have admitted that the communal riot was pre-planned. The attackers also raised certain objectionable and anti-national slogans to incite communal violence.

"Such sloganeering by the mob is not acceptable and amounts to a crime that needs to be dealt with strict laws," the BJP said in the letter.

In conclusion, the BJP's state unit has urged the Centre to direct an inquiry by the NIA to investigate the communal violence in Sambalpur and take necessary measures to restore law and order in the region.

Author : Shyamal Mitra

Source : https://www.outlookindia.com/national/odisha-bjp-writes-to-amit-shah-seeks-nia-probe-into-sambalpur-violence-news-280579