Jajpur: Tension gripped Kasaba village under Thalakudi panchayat in Dasarathapur block of Odisha’s Jajpur district after a traditional Pala cultural event turned violent on Monday night, leaving more than 20 people injured.
According to sources, the clash erupted between rival groups from Bautra Sahi and Jia Sahi during the concluding night of a three-day Pala programme at Kasaba Pala Mandap. It began over a seemingly trivial issue but quickly escalated as members of both groups pelted stones and glass bottles at each other while wielding sticks as weapons.
The sudden violence brought the cultural performance to an abrupt halt, shocking attendees and disrupting a long-standing village tradition. Many of the injured sustained wounds from stone-pelting and scuffles.
On being informed, Mangalpur police reached the spot and brought the situation under control. The injured were initially rushed to the Community Health Centre at Mangalpur and those critical later shifted to Jajpur district headquarters hospital. Forces have been deployed in the village to maintain law and order. An investigation is underway to identify the perpetrators and determine the exact trigger for the clash.
A resident of Jia Sahi, Baina Mallick, alleged that tensions had been simmering since long. While the two Sahis traditionally organise the annual Pala jointly, members of Bautra Sahi reportedly stayed away this year and were suspected of planning disturbances. Mallick claimed attackers targeted children on the pretext of “making fun” during the show, sparking the chaos. He alleged that the violence was intended to disrupt village harmony.
