Bhubaneswar: In response to a violent clash during the Durga Puja idol immersion procession on October 3, the Commissionerate Police imposed a 36-hour curfew across 13 police station areas of Cuttack city to maintain law and order.
The incident at Dargah Bazaar left four people injured, including Cuttack Deputy Commissioner of Police Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo. Based on CCTV footage, police have arrested six persons linked to the violence, who were produced before the court on Saturday.
“The situation is under control. All the injured sustained minor injuries; three have been discharged, while one person remains under treatment at SCB Medical College in Cuttack. Some persons on social media are circulating false rumours that one person died in the clash. This information is completely untrue—no fatalities have occurred,” said Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissioner of Police S. Dev Datta Singh while briefing the media.
Singh further condemned the spread of misinformation on social media and assured strict action against those responsible for disseminating false news.
He also stated that the curfew would be effective from 10 pm tonight, covering the areas under Dargah Bazaar, Manglabag, Cantonment Road, Purighat, Lalbag, Bidanasi, Markatnagar, CDA Phase-II, Malgodown, Badambadi, Jagatpur, 42 Mouza, and Sadar police stations.
The Police Commissioner added that the unrest began during a prohibited bike rally organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) earlier in the day.
“The VHP members ignored police warnings and when police attempted to stop them, they began pelting stones, injuring 25 police personnel. In response, the police resorted to a lathi charge and fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd,” he said.
Additional police forces have been deployed in sensitive areas, with round-the-clock patrolling underway to prevent further disturbances.
Odisha Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania reviewed the situation and appealed to the public to maintain peace and refrain from spreading rumours on social media.
“The Odisha Police and Commissionerate Police are fully prepared to deal with any unlawful activities. Those involved will face strict action,” he affirmed.
The Odisha Police also urged citizens to cooperate with law enforcement and remain calm as authorities work to restore normalcy in the city.
