Curfew extended till 1600 hours in Jeypore

Jeypore, Aug 31 (UNI) The authorities extended the curfew till 1600 hours today and ordered all schools and colleges to remain closed till Wednesday in Jeypore subdivision as tension continued in Jeypore town for the second day.

The curfew was clamped in the town from 2000 hours last night till 0800 hours this morning after a mob went on rampage, attacked police stations, set churches ablaze and damaged several vehicles.

Police was compelled to open fire to control the situation.

Police said as many as 13 churches were destroyed by the rampaging mob since last night. While six churches were damaged in Narayanapatna and Baipariguda area last night, five churches were damaged today.

Police said the trouble started yesterday when students belonging to the two communities clashed following display of certain objectionable pictures in a classroom of the local Vikarma Dev College. The clash later spread to other areas.

The authorities rushed CRPF jawans and deployed nine platoons of Orissa State Armed Police as tension prevailed in the town following arson and violence. One more company of CRPF arrived here today to control the situation.

Police arrested 12 persons so far in connection with the violence and registered as many cases.

District Collector R K Sahu and DIG S Panda were camping in the town and monitoring the situation.

UNI XC BD DPM/src1305