Religious processions banned in Sambalpur for 1 year

Sambalpur: Taking a serious note of the recent communal intolerance in Sambalpur Town, all collective/joint religious processions have been banned in the district headquarters town for the next one year.

Informing about the development Superintendent of Police (SP) Mukesh Bhamu said that the district administration reportedly held a meeting of the Peace Committee to decide whether to grant permission for the collective/joint processions during the upcoming Muḥarram festival. However, the meeting decided to impose a ban on such religious processions.

Bhamu, however, clarified that apart from the joint religious processions, they (Muslim community) can celebrate the festival in their respective areas following their coordination with the local police station.

The decision has been taken with the aim to maintain communal harmony in the town, the SP said adding that many people are still in the jail due to the violence that took place on April 12, two days before the Hanuman Jayanti.

The Muḥarram festival will be celebrated in Sambalpur on July 29, 2023.