Authorities have imposed a 36-hour curfew in parts of Cuttack, Odisha, from Sunday evening to prevent further communal tension after a Durga Puja procession and a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) rally turned violent. At least 25 police personnel were injured in the clashes, while the VHP has called for a 12-hour bandh on Monday.
Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh said that the violence began after a personal quarrel broke out during a Durga idol immersion procession on Friday evening. “Four miscreants were arrested and produced before the court on Saturday,” he said.
Singh added that a bike rally organised by the VHP on Sunday had not been given permission due to security concerns. “When the police tried to stop the rally, tension erupted. The rally was headed toward sensitive areas where communal tension could have flared up. As police took a firm stand, the participants began pelting stones at them. Twenty-five personnel were injured, eight of them seriously,” he said.
The police used lathi charges and fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. “The situation has now been brought under control,” Singh added.
The curfew, effective from 10 p.m. on Sunday, will continue for 36 hours across several police station limits. Essential services such as healthcare, milk, and vegetable supply, as well as the movement of students and office-goers, have been exempted.
Director General of Police Y. B. Khurania warned of strict action against anyone attempting to disrupt peace. “All stringent provisions of the law will be invoked against those taking the law into their own hands,” he said.
The Odisha government also suspended internet services in Cuttack for 24 hours, from 7 p.m. Sunday to 7 p.m. Monday, to prevent the spread of misinformation. A Home Department notification stated that “anti-social elements may use platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and X to circulate false or provocative messages,” which could further disturb peace.
Chief Minister Mohan Majhi appealed to residents to maintain calm and protect Cuttack’s legacy of communal harmony. “Cuttack is a thousand-year-old city and a symbol of brotherhood. In recent days, peace has been disturbed due to the actions of some miscreants. The government is watching closely, and strict action will be taken against anyone spreading unrest,” he said.
Meanwhile, the VHP accused police of inaction, claiming that attacks on Hindus in certain areas were being ignored. The organisation has demanded a high-level inquiry into the violence in the Kadamrasul area and a door-to-door search operation to identify those responsible.
