Cuttack: In the wake of recent communal tensions during Durga idol immersions, Cuttack Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh on Sunday assured the public that the situation is now under control.
Speaking at a press conference, Singh confirmed that the unrest, which led to stone-pelting incidents, was instigated by a single group, with no retaliatory actions reported. He emphasised that the police swiftly identified and arrested the perpetrators using CCTV footage and drone surveillance.
Singh also noted that 25 police personnel were injured during the disturbances, with eight sustaining serious injuries.
To maintain order, authorities have imposed a 36-hour curfew in 13 police station areas, including Daraghabazar, Mangalabag, and Lalbag, effective from 7 pm on Sunday. During this period, emergency services will operate, but public gatherings, processions, and protests are strictly prohibited. The police are conducting extensive searches to apprehend any remaining troublemakers.
In response to the spread of provocative content on social media, the state government has enforced a 24-hour ban on platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) in parts of Cuttack. This measure aims to curb misinformation and prevent further escalation of communal tensions.
Singh reassured the public that the situation is being closely monitored and that the police are committed to restoring peace and ensuring the safety of all residents.
Late Saturday night, a joyful Durga Puja immersion procession in Odisha’s Cuttack turned chaotic, causing heavy police deployment and a potential shutdown in the city. This followed clashes between two communities near Hathipokhari in Darghabazar, halting the festivities and injuring several, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Khiladi Rishikesh Gyanadev.
The trouble ignited around 1:30 am when locals objected to loud music blaring from the procession heading towards Kathajodi River’s Debigara ghat. A heated argument quickly escalated into stone-pelting from rooftops, with glass bottles raining down on the crowd. The melee vandalised vehicles and roadside stalls, prompting police to use mild lathi charges to disperse the mob. Authorities stalled the immersion rituals for nearly three hours, resumed them under tight security, and concluded them by 9:30 am on Sunday.
In the aftermath, authorities arrested six suspects, relying on CCTV footage, drone surveillance, and eyewitness accounts to hunt for more. Yet, fury simmers. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has slammed the administration for “failing to maintain law and order”, and demanded the transfer of the DCP and District Collector. In protest, they’ve called for a 12-hour bandh on Monday, October 6, from dawn till dusk.
To quell rising tensions, internet services across Cuttack have been suspended for 24 hours, a move aimed at curbing misinformation. As the city braces for the bandh, questions swirl over communal harmony in this historic heartland. Police urge calm, vowing swift justice, but the scars of the night linger, casting a shadow over the festival’s triumphant close.