Cuttack, one of Odisha’s oldest and most culturally vibrant cities, has been on edge after fresh clashes broke out over the weekend where 25 people were injured, two days after Durga Puja idol immersion processions turned violent.
Internet shutdown and curfew
The Odisha government has ordered a 24-hour suspension of internet services across Cuttack city, including areas under the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, Cuttack Development Authority (CDA), and the 42 Mauza region. The suspension, effective from 7 pm Sunday to 7 pm Monday, covers major platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.
The government on Sunday night also imposed prohibitory orders in 13 police station areas. Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh said the orders will be effective for 36 hours from 10 pm on Sunday.
Heavy police deployment has been made in sensitive pockets like Dargah Bazaar, Gourishankar Park, and Bidyadharpur. Personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been brought in to assist the local police.
How the Cuttack violence began?
According to eyewitnesses and police officials, the initial trouble began in the early hours of Saturday, between 1.30 and 2 am, when a Durga idol immersion procession passed through the Dargah Bazaar area on its way to the Kathajodi river. A group of locals reportedly objected to the loud music being played at that hour, sparking an argument that soon escalated into violence.
Stones and glass bottles were allegedly thrown from rooftops, and members of the procession retaliated. Several people, including Cuttack’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo, were injured in the ensuing chaos. Police resorted to a lathi charge to bring the situation under control.
Authorities have so far arrested six people and are scanning CCTV, drone, and mobile footage to identify others involved. Police Commissioner S. Dev Datt Singh confirmed that more arrests will follow, adding that “those who disturbed peace will face strict legal action.” One person was seriously injured and admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, while the DCP’s condition remains stable, according to a report by NDTV.
Tensions flare up again on Sunday after VHP rally
Fresh tension erupted on Sunday evening when the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) conducted a motorcycle rally despite administrative restrictions. The rally began from Bidyadharpur on the city’s outskirts, passed through the Dargah Bazaar area, the place where Saturday’s violence took place, and ended in the CDA Sector 11 area.
According to the police, several CCTV cameras along the route were vandalised, and a few shops in the Gourishankar Park locality were damaged or allegedly set on fire. The Commissionerate Police again used mild force to disperse the crowds and prevent further escalation.
What Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi said about communal?
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has expressed concern over the violence and appealed for peace. “Cuttack is a thousand-year-old city known for its unity and communal harmony. Due to the actions of some miscreants, peace has been disturbed,” Majhi said. He even assured that strict legal action will be taken against those responsible.
He directed officials to ensure free medical treatment for the injured and said the government was “closely monitoring the situation.”
Former Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik also called for restraint, terming the incidents “deeply concerning.” “Odisha has always been a peace-loving state. Such an unpleasant situation in Cuttack, the city of brotherhood, is alarming,” he said.
Patnaik, now leading the Opposition, accused the BJP-led state government of administrative lapses, alleging that the police “appeared helpless” during the clashes. “The pressure on the police under this government is disrupting law and order,” he said.
Political fallout and bandh call
The VHP announced a 12-hour bandh in Cuttack for Monday, blaming the administration for its failure to ensure peaceful idol immersions. “Despite repeated warnings, authorities failed to prevent violence,” NDTV quoted a VHP spokesperson as saying. He even demanded the transfer of the DCP and the district collector.
The ruling BJP government, meanwhile, blamed “anti-social elements” for the disturbances. BJD and Congress leaders condemned the violence, saying vested interests were trying to damage Cuttack’s long tradition of communal harmony.
Congress MLA Sofia Firdous, who represents the Barabati-Cuttack constituency, said, “Our city has been celebrating Durga Puja for over 500 years. Anyone attempting to disrupt this unity must face strict punishment.”
City under high alert
Director General of Police (DGP) Y B Khurania held an emergency meeting with senior officers to review the situation, while Chief Minister Majhi continues to receive hourly updates from the Home Department.
Immersion activities that were suspended for nearly three hours on Saturday resumed under tight police protection and concluded peacefully by 9.30 am Sunday. Officials confirmed that 120 idols were immersed without further incident.
