Bhubaneswar: A three-day state-level Ijtema, an Islamic conference, scheduled to begin at Taratua village in Khurda district on Friday, was cancelled by the govt due to administrative reasons.While the decision has come as a surprise for members of the community, which had completed preparations for the annual congregation, with participants already reaching from across the state, the administration cited not enough police presence to deal with the crowd.“Due to non-availability of adequate police force and anticipation of huge gathering at the venue, which may adversely affect crowd management and public safety, the permission granted for organizing the Ijtema (religions gathering) at Taratua, Khurda… is hereby cancelled,” read the letter issued by the office of the sub-collector of Khurda district.Organisers claimed they had to shift the venue twice in the past on similar grounds. The Ijtema was first scheduled at Neolpur near Chandikhol in Jajpur district from Jan 31 to Feb 2 and then at Benapanjri near Jatni in Khurda district.“We have been forced to cancel the Ijtema after making all the preparations at an investment of about Rs 3 crore,” said professor Mohammad Afsar Ali, one of the coordinators of the event.Ali said the Taratua venue was selected in the presence of top govt officials. He also claimed a no objection certificate was received from officials for the Tablighi Jamaat event.“We sustained huge losses,” said Waheed Khan, secretary of the Ijtema committee at Taratua.Despite repeated attempts, neither Khurda district collector Amrit Ruturaj nor superintendent of police Vivekanand Sharma was available for comment.
