Cuttack: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has called a 12-hour Cuttack Bandh on Monday over the violent clash during the immersion of Maa Durga idols at Haathi Pokhari near Dargha Bazar area in the city late on Friday.
While expressing outrage over the incident, the organisation blamed district and police administration for the incident and demanded transfer of the Cuttack Collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde and DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, the VHP blamed the police and district administration’s failure to maintain law and order for the incident. “Six people, including the DCP, were injured in the clash, an unprecedented event in the city in recent times. To protest the Cuttack DCP and collector’s failure to ensure a peaceful immersion ceremony, we will hold a 12-hour bandh on Monday,” said president of the VHP Mahanagar unit Basudev Behera.
The district BJD claimed that it was a deliberate conspiracy by anti-social elements to defame the city and harm its heritage and pride. “The state government is taking the matter seriously. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has discussed it with the administration and is overseeing the situation. Free treatment will be provided to all injured persons, and strict action will be taken against those responsible,” they stated.
The Clash
Six persons, including the DCP, were injured in the clash which erupted between 1.30 am and 2 am after locals allegedly objected to certain songs being played during the immersion procession when the idol from Jhanjirmangala Bhagabat Sahi Puja Committee was en route to Devigada for immersion. The argument quickly escalated with stone and glass bottle being pelted from rooftops..
The Cuttack DCP, who was at the site to monitor the law and order, sustained injuries on his face while trying to pacify the crowd. Police later resorted to mild lathi-charge to disperse the mob. The procession was also halted briefly after members of the Puja committee staged a dharna demanding immediate arrest of the miscreants.
The clash caused panic, damage to vehicles, and disruption to the immersion schedule leaving over 40 idols stranded for nearly three hours. The immersion finally concluded at 9.30 am Saturday amid heavy police deployment with forces also on the rooftops of buildings on both sides of the route. Additional police forces were also deployed in the sensitive areas of Cuttack to prevent any escalation.
“…It happens sometimes. But there is no issue in general…The police and the Puja Committee have resolved this very well…I appeal not to extend this and try to do this in a better manner next year by learning some lessons from this…,” District Collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde told ANI.
While six persons have so far been arrested, efforts are on to identify more suspects based on CCTV footage, eyewitness and drone visuals, police said, adding that none involved in disrupting peace will be spared.
Opposition slams government
The Opposition BJD and Congress came down heavily on the state government for the clash. Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik called the stone-pelting and bottle attacks disturbing, reflecting poorly on the city’s reputation of communal harmony. “In peaceful Odisha, this atmosphere of unrest is never acceptable. The police administration appears completely helpless in controlling such a situation. The pressure on the police under the BJP government is disrupting law and order in the state,” He wrote on X.
“Maintaining communal harmony should be our top priority. It is our collective responsibility to maintain harmony and goodwill among ourselves. May peace and friendship prevail in society,” he added.
In a separate post, the Pradesh Congress Committee said the communal clash in Cuttack deserved strongest condemnation and demanded stringent action against those responsible. “The BJP government’s actions have eroded police morale, leading to such disturbing incidents. The government and administration must rise above narrow interests and take exemplary action to maintain communal harmony and peace in society,” he added.
