Bhubaneswar: The discovery of the Pakistani flag on the main road at Rupali Square in Bhubaneswar on Sunday late evening created public resentment in the capital city.
Stickers with Pakistani national flags were found on a busy road despite traffic police presence, raising questions about how such action missed the police eye.
Official sources said local authorities have started investigating to find out the perpetrators and unravel their motives. Police are scrutinising CCTV footage and asking local residents for plausible leads. There is no clarity yet, as the police have not released an official statement.
The incident comes close on the heels of the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 26 tourists were killed, sparking nationwide anger against terrorism allegedly perpetrated by Pakistan. The Union government issued an order asking all Pakistani nationals to leave India. This has heightened speculation of a warlike situation between the two neighbours. Two Pakistani citizens, including Nagma Yusuf, left Odisha on Sunday. Yusuf had been residing in Bhubaneswar since 2008 following her marriage to an Indian national. Yusuf’s visa expired in 2024, and he received no renewal from authorities.