Mandsaur: Haunted by the massive farmer’s agitation in Mandsaur last year, the administration here has issued prohibitive orders to “keep the communal harmony intact during the festive season” days ahead of the anniversary of the clashes.
Last year on June 6, five protesting farmers were killed in police firing and authorities worry that the ongoing plight of the community might flare up the sentiments on the first anniversary of the agitation.
Prohibitive orders issued by the Mandsaur Collector cites the district being communally sensitive. The order issued by Collector Om Prakash Srivastava mentions that the administration is issuing prohibitive orders under Section 144 of CrPc to ensure communal harmony and law & order remain intact during religious festivals and the bandh that are likely to be called by SC/ST and the upper caste outfits.
Among other things, the preventive measures aim at curbing inflammatory content being circulated on social media, which was a primary reason believed to be responsible for the widespread violence witnessed during last year’s stir.
The preventive measures come to force on the recommendation forwarded by the Superintendent of Police, Mandsaur, the district magistrate said in the order.
Besides regulating religious rallies, functions and programmes, the measures forbid uploading of any objectionable content on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and others. Any comment, cross comments and forwarding of such content would also be deemed punishable.
The prohibitory orders would remain in force for the next two months.
With Mandsaur taking the centre-stage of yet another farmers’ stir from June 1 this year, the administration is taking no chances in clamping down on proposed agitations so that a rerun of the last year’s unrest could be averted.
Following the death of five protesters in police firing in Mandsaur on June 6, the Malwa region was rocked by violence that engulfed other parts of the state as well.
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