Cuttack: Tension gripped Cuttack, Odisha’s historic “Millennium City,” after violent clashes broke out during Durga Puja idol immersion processions, prompting authorities to impose a 36-hour curfew and suspend internet services across major parts of the city. The violence, which first erupted in the Dargah Bazaar area late Friday night, reportedly stemmed from a dispute over loud music being played during the religious procession.
The situation spiralled over the weekend as incidents of stone pelting, vandalism, and arson were reported, leaving several people injured, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo. Officials said one person was critically hurt and admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, while the DCP’s condition remains stable.
According to eyewitnesses and police reports, the first episode of violence took place between 1:30 am and 2 am on Saturday when a Durga idol immersion procession was making its way to the Kathajodi river. Locals in the Dargah Bazaar neighbourhood allegedly objected to high-decibel music being played late at night. The argument soon turned violent, with stones and glass bottles hurled from rooftops, prompting retaliation from members of the procession.
Amid the chaos, police used a mild lathi charge to disperse the mob. Authorities have arrested six individuals so far and are examining CCTV, drone, and mobile footage to identify others involved.
“Those arrested were identified through CCTV footage and were directly involved in stone-pelting,” said Police Commissioner S. Dev Datt Singh, adding that more arrests will follow as the investigation progresses.
Just as calm began to return, fresh violence broke out on Sunday evening when members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) conducted a motorcycle rally in defiance of prohibitory orders issued by the district administration. The rally started from Bidyadharpur, passed through the volatile Dargah Bazaar area, and ended at Sector 11, CDA.
Officials reported that CCTV cameras were damaged, and several shops in the Gourishankar Park area were vandalised and partially set on fire. Police were forced to use mild force once again to control the situation.
In response to the escalating violence, the Odisha government ordered a 36-hour internet suspension across areas under the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, Cuttack Development Authority (CDA), and adjoining 42 Mauza region, effective from 7 pm Sunday to 7 pm Monday.
The suspension aims to prevent the spread of rumours, inflammatory messages, and misinformation through social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, which will remain blocked during this period.
Security deployment has been intensified across the city, with Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) joining local law enforcement to patrol sensitive areas such as Dargah Bazaar, Gourishankar Park, and Bidyadharpur.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who also holds the Home portfolio, appealed for calm and communal harmony, urging residents not to let “miscreants destroy Cuttack’s centuries-old unity.”
“Cuttack is a thousand-year-old city known for its communal harmony. Due to the actions of a few, peace has been disturbed,” Majhi said in a statement. “Strict action will be taken against those responsible. No one will be spared.”
He also directed that free medical treatment be provided to those injured and that senior officials monitor the situation closely to prevent further escalation.
Former Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik, now leading the Opposition, expressed deep concern over the developments, calling the violence “alarming” and “uncharacteristic” of Cuttack’s inclusive spirit.
“Odisha has always been a peace-loving state. Such violence in the city of brotherhood is deeply worrying,” he said, alleging that administrative lapses under the current government led to the escalation.
“The police appeared helpless under pressure from the new administration, and that has disrupted law and order,” Patnaik added.
The VHP announced a 12-hour bandh in Cuttack on Monday, accusing authorities of failing to ensure peace during the idol immersion. The organisation demanded the transfer of the DCP and district collector, holding them accountable for “administrative failure.”
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) condemned the violence and accused “anti-social elements” of attempting to destabilise communal unity. Congress MLA Sofia Firdous, representing Barabati-Cuttack, voiced her anguish over the developments, urging justice and unity.
“Our city is an example of coexistence. Durga Puja has been celebrated here for more than five centuries. Those attempting to disrupt this harmony must face the law,” she said.
The Director General of Police (DGP) Y.B. Khurania convened an emergency meeting with senior officers to assess the law and order situation. Additional police forces remain deployed across the city, and Section 144 of the CrPC continues to prohibit public gatherings.
Immersion activities, which were halted for several hours following Saturday’s violence, resumed under tight police supervision on Sunday morning and concluded peacefully by 9:30 am, with over 120 idols immersed without further incident.
As Cuttack stands tense but calm under curfew, authorities remain on high alert to ensure that the city’s long-standing legacy of communal harmony and peace is not overshadowed by the violence of a few turbulent nights.