Cuttack Violence During Durga Immersion: VHP Calls 12-Hour Bandh

Cuttack city in Odisha remained tense on Sunday following violent clashes during Durga Puja idol immersion, prompting the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to announce a 12-hour bandh in the city on October 6.

Officials reported that the violence erupted between 1:30 AM and 2 AM on Saturday near Haathi Pokhari in the Daraghabazar area, a few miles from the state capital, Bhubaneswar. The incident began after some locals objected to high-decibel music being played during the procession.

The disagreement quickly escalated as a mob began pelting stones and glass bottles from rooftops onto the procession, injuring several individuals, including Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo. So far, six people have been arrested, and police are using CCTV footage, drone visuals, and eyewitness accounts to identify others involved, according to PTI.

Authorities employed a mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd and restore order. Immersion activities were paused for nearly three hours as members of Durga Puja committees staged protests demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible. The processions resumed under tight security, and all remaining idols were immersed by 9:30 AM on Sunday.

Reactions to the Violence

The VHP criticized the administration for failing to maintain law and order, demanding the transfer of the DCP and the district collector. In protest, the organisation announced a dawn-to-dusk bandh on Monday.

A VHP spokesperson said, "The authorities failed to ensure peaceful immersion despite repeated requests."

The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) blamed "anti-social elements" for trying to disrupt communal harmony. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, a BJP leader, assured strict action against those responsible and directed officials to provide free medical care to the injured.