**Tension Continues in Cuttack Following Violence During Durga Idol Immersion Procession**
Cuttack remained tense on Sunday following fresh incidents of violence linked to a group clash that occurred two days ago during a Durga idol immersion procession. In response, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik urged citizens to maintain communal harmony.
The appeals for peace by CM Majhi and opposition leaders come after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) organized a motorcycle rally in the evening, defying the district administration’s orders.
### Internet Services Suspended to Prevent Misinformation
In view of the prevailing law and order situation, the state government suspended internet services in areas under the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, Cuttack Development Authority (CDA), and the adjoining 42 Mauza region. The suspension was effective from 7 pm on Sunday to 7 pm on Monday, aiming to prevent the spread of misinformation.
### Property Damage and Arson Reported
According to officials, CCTV cameras installed along the procession route were damaged, and shops in the Gourishankar Park area were allegedly set on fire after police stopped the procession.
The rally began at Bidyadharpur on the eastern outskirts of the city and moved through key locations, including the Dargah Bazar locality—the epicenter of the earlier violence—before ending at Sector 11 of CDA on the western fringe of the city. Participants were heard chanting “Jai Shri Ram” as they moved through the city.
### CM Majhi’s Statement on the Situation
While appealing for peace, CM Majhi assured that strict action would be taken against violators. In a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), he expressed sorrow over the disturbances and urged citizens to uphold communal harmony.
“Cuttack is a thousand-year-old city known for its brotherhood. Due to the actions of some miscreants, the peace of the city has been disturbed in recent days,” he said.
Majhi added that the government was closely monitoring troublemakers and would take strict action against them as per the law.
### Political Reactions: Patnaik and Congress MLA Express Concern
BJD chief Naveen Patnaik also expressed concern over the law and order situation, highlighting Odisha’s reputation as a peace-loving state.
Barabati-Cuttack MLA Sofia Firdus of the Congress party said she is “saddened and worried” by the developments.
“Our city is a living example of unity and tradition—where Durga Puja has been celebrated for over 500 years. Those who tried to disrupt this unity, identified through CCTV, drone, and mobile footage, should be punished as per the law,” Firdus said.
### VHP Calls for Bandh on October 6
Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has announced a 12-hour bandh in the city on October 6. The bandh is in protest against the group clash during the Durga idol procession.
### How the Clash Erupted
The clashes broke out between 1:30 am and 2 am on Saturday near Haathi Pokhari in the Daraghabazar area when an immersion procession was heading towards Debigara on the banks of the Kathajodi river.
According to officials, the violence erupted after some locals objected to high-decibel music being played during the procession. The argument escalated into a confrontation when a mob began pelting stones and glass bottles from rooftops onto the procession, injuring several revelers, including Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo.
The police have arrested six persons in connection with the incident.
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*Note: Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/odisha-unrest-cuttack-tense-after-durga-immersion-clashes-internet-suspended-cm-majhi-and-naveen-patnaik-appeal-for-peace