Religious Intolerance Disrupts Otherwise Peaceful Dussehra In Cuttack

Cuttack: A late-night Durga Puja idol immersion procession in Cuttack turned violent in the early hours of Saturday when a clash broke out between two groups in the Dargha Bazaar area, leaving six people injured, including Deputy Commissioner of Police Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo. The incident occurred between 1:30 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. when the Jhanjirmangala Bhagabat Sahi Puja Committee’s idol was being taken for immersion.

A dispute reportedly arose when a group of local residents objected to music being played through loudspeakers by the procession party, leading to stone pelting and chaos. Police teams rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital, and six persons were later arrested in connection with the violence.

The immersion process, which had to be suspended temporarily, resumed under tight security and concluded later in the late morning on Saturday. Surveillance footage from CCTVs and drones aided the police in identifying the miscreants, sources said. By Saturday afternoon, additional forces had been deployed across the city to prevent further disturbances, and the administration appealed for peace.

The clash has cast a shadow on what was otherwise a vibrant Durga Puja celebration in Cuttack city, where the city’s famed silver filigree-adorned idols drew lakhs of devotees from across the State during the five-day puja celebrations. This year, civic authorities had emphasized an eco-friendly approach by setting up temporary ponds for immersions to prevent pollution of Mahanadi and Kathajodi rivers and other natural water bodies.

“Despite these measures, the outbreak of violence highlighted long-standing concerns about crowd management by the police administration”, said a City Puja Committee member.

“We are providing complete protection. Police have also been deployed on the rooftops of the buildings on both sides of the route. We are fully confident and hopeful that all the idols will reach the Devi Gada immersion spot without any further troubles”, said additional police commissioner Narasingha Bhol.

The recent spate of incidents has raised questions about preparedness and safety during festival seasons. Experts point out that poor route planning, inadequate barricading and lack of trained personnel contribute to such incidents. The Cuttack clash, triggered by a dispute over sound volume, highlights the fragile balance between religious intolerances and civic responsibilities.

As the festival season draws to a close, the need for stricter enforcement of safety protocols, coordinated route monitoring and community participation in maintaining order has become increasingly evident. Authorities across States have been urged to reassess festival management strategies to ensure that future celebrations remain occasions of faith and harmony, not fear and loss, opine senior citizens of the city. (EOM)

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