Priya Bharti Joda police arrested 11 people belonging to two warring groups who were involved in a communal clash in the mining town, last Monday.
The situation in Joda became tense following the clash on April 11. As tension flared up, both the groups started to hurl stones and glass bottles at each other. The situation was diffused to some extent after police resorted to blank firing to disperse the warring groups.
The district administration imposed Section 144 in the town to check any further escalation. The clashes took place over hoisting a flag on Ram Navami at a temple located in a Muslim-dominated area in Joda. Several police personnel and scribes sustained injuries while many houses and vehicles were vandalized during the violence.
Following the incident, Keonjhar SP Mitrabhanu Mahapatra, Champua Sub-collector Pratap Pritimaya, a sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Himansu Bhusan Behera, and other officials rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. The armed police force was also deployed at the site.
