Cuttack: Days after violent clashes rocked Odisha’s Cuttack during immersion procession of Goddess Durga idol, police on Thursday intensified the drive against troublemakers and conducted house-to-house searches in some areas of the city.
As per official sources, large contingents of police personnel along with members of central forces raided several places, particularly Hati Pokhari and Kadam Rasul localities of Daragha Bazar area of the city.
During the operation since morning, three more persons were arrested on Thursday in connection with the recent violent clashed that took place on October 3, taking the total number of arrests to nine, according to ACP Girija Shankar Chakrabarty.
More arrests are likely to follow in the days ahead as the investigation is being intensified. Earlier, six persons involved in the incident had been identified and arrested.
As part of the investigation, a house search of the suspects is being carried out in the city as police have information that arms and ammunition were kept at their homes, said a senior police official.
Police personnel in strength have been deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident during the search operation being carried out as part of the investigation. Two ACPs and three IICs, along with a large contingent of police personnel, have been deployed at strategic locations.
This apart, central paramilitary forces have also been deployed to assist the Commissionerate Police in maintaining law and order and conducting area checks.
Apart from the nine people arrested in connection with the violence during idol immersion procession, 23 others have been taken into custody over the clash that took place in the aftermath of the idol immersion ceremony. The number of arrests is likely to rise further, police said.
It may be noted that two groups clashed in Daragha Bazar area during the immersion procession, triggering tension in the millennium city. While four people were injured in the clash, the police have arrested eight people in connection with the case. Several police officers, including the DCP, were injured in the violent incident.
As tension prevailed in Cuttack after the violent clashes, a 36-hour curfew and a 48-hour internet suspension were imposed in the city as a preventive measure.
