Bhubaneswar, 10 December (H.S.): The Odisha government on Wednesday extended the suspension of social media services in Malkangiri district for another 24 hours, keeping the restrictions in place until 12 pm on December 11.

The suspension covers platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook and X.

This marks the third consecutive extension of the ban. Internet services were initially blocked on December 8 for 24 hours, followed by an 18-hour extension on December 9. The restrictions, which were scheduled to be lifted at noon today, have now been prolonged in view of the prevailing sensitive law-and-order situation.

The measures come in the aftermath of violent clashes between two communities, triggered by the discovery of a woman’s headless body on December 4.

Tensions escalated further on Wednesday after police traced and recovered the severed head nearly 40 km away from where the body was found. It was located near a riverbank close to a Kanya Ashram in Rakhelguda during a follow-up investigation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda