Clashes erupted between Hindus and Muslims during Durga idol immersions in Cuttack, Odisha over loud music being played during a procession while it was passing a dargah on October 4.
The tense situation led to a 36-hour curfew and internet shut down in the city. The incident occurred between 1:30-2:00 AM when the Durga idol procession passed through the Dargah Bazaar towards the Kathajodi river.
Tensions escalated due to stone pelting after the procession was stopped for playing the music on high volume.
The Cuttack police lathi-charged the crowd to get the situation under control. According to a reports, the rally was conducted by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
“Those arrested were involved in stone pelting and were identified through CCTV footage. More arrests will follow,” Cuttack police commissioner was quoted as saying by Maktoob Media. The police is checking the CCTV, drone and mobile footage of the incident to identify those who were involved in the clashes.
The clashes resulted in a curfew and an internet shutdown in the Odisha capital. The state government also suspended internet services in regions under the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, Cuttack Development Authority (CDA), and the adjoining 42 Mauza area from 7:00 PM Sunday to 7:00 PM on Monday.
The Odisha government had imposed restrictions on music during the Durga idol immersion processions. However, the VHP which organised a bike rally that defied the district administration’s orders. The rally began from Bidyadharpur on the eastern outskirts, passed through Dargah Bazaar, and ended at Sector 11 in the CDA area.
Some CCTV cameras were damaged, and shops in the Gourishankar Park area were vandalised and allegedly set on fire. Expressing regret over the incident, Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Manjhi said, “Cuttack’s ethos of brotherhood has withstood centuries. I appeal to everyone to uphold it in these difficult times.”
Opposition leader and former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, criticised the government for handling the situation and pointed at administrative failure. “The police appeared completely helpless in controlling the situation. The pressure on law enforcement under the BJP government is disrupting law and order in the state,” Patnaik said in a statement.
Eight arrested for violence
Eight people were arrested on Monday in connection with the violence in Odisha’s Cuttack, where a 12-hour bandh was underway amid heavy security deployment with prohibitory orders in place, officials said.
Speaking to reporters, Commissioner of Police S Dev Datta Singh said three cases were registered and eight people were arrested in connection with Sunday’s attack on police by VHP activists.
“The situation is under control,” he said.
Senior police officer Amarenda Panda and Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo were among the 25 people injured in the attack. Panda was admitted to the ICU of the SCB Medical College and Hospital, officials said.
Police said raids were continuing in different parts of the city after some of the “mischief mongers” were identified through CCTV footage.
Clashes broke out in the early hours of Saturday near Haathi Pokhari in the Daraghabazar area as locals objected to loud music being played in immersion processions. What started as an argument soon escalated, leading to the hurling of stones and glass bottles.
Six people, including Dnyandeo, were injured in the clashes.
Alleging that the police failed to stop the attack on the processions, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) called a 12-hour bandh on Monday.
On Sunday, a motorcycle rally by VHP activists in support of the bandh was stopped by the police when they reached the trouble-torn area, leading to a fresh bout of violence. The VHP activists hurled stones at the police, who used lathi charge, tear gas shells and rubber bullets to bring the situation under control.
Several shops in the Gourishankar Park area were allegedly set on fire during the violence.
The bandh, which began at 6 am, evoked a mixed response but remained incident-free.
Government offices and educational institutions were functioning with thin attendance. Markets and petrol pumps remained open, and public transport was available on the road, but less than usual due to the slew of restrictions imposed by the police.
ACP Narasingha Bhol said 1,800 personnel of the state police have been deployed along with around 800 personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and Odisha Swift Action Force in the city.
Police patrols are continuing in sensitive areas, he said, adding that restrictions have also been imposed on entry into the city.
“People from outside are not allowed entry into Cuttack city, except those working here and patients travelling to the SCB Medical College and Hospital. Passenger buses are being stopped at the entry points. All the entry points of the city have been blocked to keep a check on the movement of anti-social elements,” he said.
ADG (Law and Order) Sanjay Kumar said that there was no report of any untoward incident, with all agencies on high alert.
He said senior officers are monitoring the situation on the field, and directions have been issued for taking prompt action against anyone found taking the law into their hands.
The prohibitory orders were imposed for 36 hours till 10 am on Tuesday in 13 of the 20 police station areas of the city, officials said.
Internet services were also suspended for 24 hours from 7 pm on Sunday to prevent a flare-up, they said.
In a statement, the Odisha Police urged the people to verify information before sharing it on social media and to refrain from posting false and inflammatory content.
“Some individuals are creating an atmosphere of unrest in society by creating and spreading fake news. Strict action will be taken against those who are spreading and circulating false or misleading information,” it said.
The article has been updated with latest information
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