The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Nayagarh policemen skip Holi celebrations

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Nayagarh policemen skip Holi celebrations

Staff Reporter

As a mark of respect to the colleagues who were killed by Maoists on Feb 15

All Holi programmes in Nayagarh jails cancelled
Muslims join celebrations in Jagatisnghpur, Puri and Kendrapara districts

BHUBANESWAR: Policepersonnel of Nayagarh and a few of its adjoining districts decided not to celebrate Holi, the festival of colours, as mark of respect to their departed colleagues who were brutally killed by naxalites on night of February 15 last.

Nayagarh Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar said, "we have cancelled all Holi celebration programmes in jails. Most of our officers engaged themselves in monitoring law and order problem." In Bhubaneswar, police also did not go for celebration.

Meanwhile, the day was celebrated with traditional gaiety and fervour across the State while Muslims joined their Hindu counterparts at several places creating models of communal harmony.

People could not have expected for a better day for celebrating Holi than this year’s. Friday being the an official holiday, people launched themselves for a frenzied Holi celebration on Saturday without troubling their mind much as they would get another off-day on Sunday.

While youngsters stole the show by taking out processions at several places and dancing to the tune of popular Bollywood Holi numbers, elderly struck to quiet celebrations by reaching out to their near and dear ones.

The wide and empty roads of capital city appeared to have been taken over by students of different engineering and other technical institutions as they were riding bikes fast and sometimes uncontrollably throwing colour dusts to air.

Though tight security arrangements were made to prevent untoward incident. At the end, the police heaved sigh of relief as the day passed off without any major violence.

Low-key affair

The celebration in political circle was low key affair with Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik away from the capital. Usually, party workers and top bureaucrats make a beeline to the Chief Minister’s residence.

In the absence of Mr. Patnaik, the day was celebrated in a scattered manner with leaders confining themselves to close groups.

According to reports reaching from districts, members of Muslim community joined Holi celebration in Fakirtakia village in Jagatsinghpur district, Nimapara in Puri and Kendrapara district to bridge the gap between the two communities.

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