Bhubaneswar: The Malkangiri administration has extended the Internet ban, initially imposed for 48 hours, for another 12 hours till Thursday midnight, amid Odisha Deputy CM K V Singh Deo’s visit to the arson-hit MV-26.

The blanket ban on social media has been imposed to curb the spread of misinformation and rumours in the volatile MV-26, which is limping back to normalcy after Monday’s violence during which tribal groups of nearby Rakhelguda village, enraged by the murder of a 51-year-old woman, had set ablaze several houses belonging to Bengali residents, forcing hundreds to flee. ADVERTISEMENT

There were also fears that the unrest could spread to neighbouring areas or be exploited by Maoist groups active along the Odisha–Chhattisgarh border.

The curfew will also remain in force for n

See Full Page