Violence erupts in Cuttack during 12 hr bandh, curfew enforced

Tension gripped the historic city of Cuttack following violent clashes during Durga Puja immersion processions over the weekend. The Vishva Hindu Paris had (VHP) had called a 12-hour bandh on Monday to protest the handling of their immersion processions, while the Odisha government imposed a 36-hour curfew starting 10 PM on Sunday, October 5, to prevent further unrest. The curfew is set to end at 10 AM on Tuesday, with authorities confirming no extensions have been announced.

The unrest began early Saturday near Haathi Pokhari in the Daragha bazar area, when objections o ver loud music during immersion escalated into clashes. Stones and glass bottles were hurled, leaving six people injured, including IPS officer and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo. The situation escalated further when VHP activists attempted a motorcycle rally in support of the bandh on Sunday, resulting in renewed violence. Twenty-five people were injured, including eight policemen, and several shops in the area were reportedly set on fire.

During the bandh, government offices and schools operated with minimal attendance, while markets and petrol pumps remained open. Public transport ran at reduced frequency due to restrictions. To maintain law and order, 1,800 state police personnel, along with 800 members of the Central Armed Police Forces and Odisha Swift Action Force, were deployed across sensitive areas. Entry points to the city were strictly monitored, allowing access only to residents, employees, and patients visiting SCB Medical College and Hospital.

Additional Director General Sanjay Kumar stated that all security agencies remain on high alert, with senior officers closely monitoring the situation. “Prompt action will be taken against anyone found taking the law into their hands,” he said. Assistant Commissioner of Police Narasingha Bhol added that the city had remained largely calm since Monday morning.

Internet services, suspended from 7 PM Sunday to curb misinformation, would be restored on Tuesday morning. The bandh and extended curfew underscore the volatile situation following the Durga Puja immersion violence, highlighting the authorities’ efforts to restore normalcy while preventing further escalation.