Cuttack: At least twenty-five people were injured after violent clashes broke out between Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) cadres and police during an idol immersion procession in Cuttack, Odisha. The state government imposed a 36-hour curfew and suspended internet services across major parts of the city to control the situation.
The violence began late Friday night when a procession organized by the Jhanjirimangala Bhagabat Puja Committee reached the Dargha Bazaar area. Witnesses said the confrontation started around 1:30 a.m. near Haathi Pokhari after objections were raised over the use of loud music. Stones and glass bottles were thrown, and several vehicles and stalls were damaged.
Among the injured was Deputy Commissioner of Police Rishikesh Khilari, who sustained an eye injury while trying to control the mob. One person remains in critical condition. Despite heavy deployment, tensions escalated again on Sunday when VHP members clashed with police in Dargha Bazaar, leading to further injuries and damage to property.
Following the second wave of violence, Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh declared a curfew in thirteen police station areas, including Dargah Bazaar, Mangalabag, Cantonment, Purighat, and Lal Bagh. Internet and social media services were suspended for 36 hours from Sunday evening to prevent the spread of inflammatory content.
Authorities have arrested six individuals so far and are reviewing CCTV footage and drone visuals to identify others involved in the rioting. Residents criticized the administration for allowing the procession to continue despite clear signs of tension in the area.
Meanwhile, the VHP called for a 12-hour bandh in Cuttack on Monday, blaming police for “excessive force.” Civil society groups, however, condemned the VHP’s role in the violence, saying the group provoked clashes that endangered lives and disrupted communal peace.
