Hours after the violence broke out between two groups during the Puja idol immersion, and the tense atmosphere that ensued, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) called a 12-hour bandh in the city of Cuttack on October 6. According to officials, the violence erupted between 1:30 AM and 2:00 AM on Saturday near Haathi Pokhari in the Darghabazar area of the city, just a few miles away from the capital Bhubaneswar, after some locals objected to high-decibel music that was being played during the procession.
Odisha | Following tension between members of the two groups, causing violent incidents in Cuttack City areas, the Odisha government has imposed a prohibition on the use and access of social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, X and any other through the Internet and other… pic.twitter.com/Mn94lyU3EL
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The argument soon escalated into a confrontation when a mob started pelting stones and glass bottles from rooftops on the procession, injuring several people. The injured included Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo.
The police arrested six people so far and have taken further efforts to identify the miscreants involved using CCTV footage, drone visuals, and eyewitness accounts, news agency PTI reported.
As per a Hindustan Times report, the police resorted to mild lathi charge to tackle the situation, disperse the crowd, and bring the situation under control. Immersion activities were halted for nearly three hours as members of Durga Puja committees staged a protest demanding the immediate arrest of those involved in the attack.
The immersion activities were resumed under heavy scrutiny
The violence led to several clashes that left roadside stalls and vehicles damaged. The Biju Janata Dal blamed “anti-social elements” for attempting to disrupt communal harmony. Additional forces have been deployed across sensitive areas where prohibitory orders are in place to prevent any kind of escalation.
#WATCH | Odisha | Visuals from Cuttack where tensions erupted following a clash between two groups. This comes following the incident of stone pelting and clash between them during Durga Puja immersion late last night. Police are present at the spot.
— ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2025
The Odisha government has… https://t.co/XRRDiRw1Zk pic.twitter.com/Ks8cxbAULJ
A recent Update has established that the riots led to fires in certain areas and stone pelting. Witnessing such situations, the decision for a bandh has been established.
