Fresh communal tension and violent clashes took place after the police did not allow the bike rally organized by a group on Sunday in Cuttack, Odisha. The clashes continued to grow, resulting in stone pelting, arson and police action, in which at least 25 people, including eight policemen, were injured. The authorities have imposed a 36 -hour curfew to prevent further unrest and suspend internet services. Police officials said a bike rally was not allowed due to possible communal tension in Cuttack, resulting in a clash with the police and eight officers were injured. The group was dispersed using force. A total of 25 people including eight policemen were injured in this incident. Internet services have been discontinued. A 36 -hour curfew has been imposed.
Fresh violence in Cuttack, prohibition implemented in 13 police station areas
The Odisha government implemented prohibition in 13 police station areas after incidents of fresh violence in Cuttack on Sunday night and suspended internet services. The step was taken after a recent facial clash during the Durga statue immersion procession, injuring 25 people. Police Commissioner S Devdutt Singh said that these orders will be effective from 10 pm to 36 hours on Sunday night. He informed that prohibition will be applicable in Dargah Bazar, Mangalabagh, Cantonment, Purighat, Lalbagh, Bidanasi, Markat Nagar, CDA Phase-2, Malgodam, Badambari, Jagatpur, Bayal Mauja and Sadar police stations.
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The state government has also suspended internet services from 7 pm to 7 pm on Sunday evening to 7 pm in the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) and 42 Mauja area to prevent the dissemination of wrong information in view of the current law and order situation. Officials said this latest incident of violence took place after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) organized a motorcycle rally in the evening disregarding the orders of the district administration. Singh said that the people involved in the rally became violent when security personnel stopped him from moving forward.
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He said, “Since the entry of the people involved in the rally was aimed at spreading unrest in the sensitive area, the police stopped them, after which they started throwing stones. The police had to lathi-charged them to disperse them and use tear gas and rubber tablets. The senior official said that 25 people including eight policemen were injured in the violence. Singh also said that four people and two policemen were injured in the mass struggle on Friday and Saturday. Three of the four injured were discharged from the hospital on Saturday.
Local people objected to the fast music playing in the procession
According to the police, there were clashes between the immersion procession near Hathi Pokhari in Dargazar area towards Devigarh on the banks of the Kathajodi river. Officials said the violence erupted when some local people objected to the fast music playing in the procession. The debate soon turned into a confrontation, when the mob started throwing stones and glass bottles from the roofs, injuring several people, including Cuttack Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Rishikesh Gyan Dev. The police lathi -charged to control the situation.Many vehicles and roadside carts were also damaged during the clash. The immersion program was stopped for about three hours, as the members of the Pooja Committee protested against the immediate arrest of the people involved in the clash. The program of immersion started again amidst heavy security and all the remaining idols were immersed by 9:30 AM on Sunday morning.
Six people arrested
According to the police, six people have been arrested so far and attempts are being made to identify other people based on CCTV footage, drone scenes and eyewitnesses. A VHP spokesman said, “Despite repeated requests, the administration failed to ensure peaceful immersion.”
Attempt to disrupt communal harmony
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) blamed “anti -social elements” and said that he tried to disrupt communal harmony. At the same time, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi assured strict action against the people responsible for the incident and directed the officials to provide free medical facilities to the injured. Additional police forces have been deployed in sensitive areas and prohibitory orders have been implemented to prevent the situation from deteriorating further. Senior police officers are closely monitoring the situation.