VHP calls 12-hour bandh on Monday in Cuttack following Durga Puja violence

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) announced a 12 -hour bandh on Monday after violent clashes during Durga Puja Idol immersion. Bandh, which was dried from dawn on October 6, aims to protest what the VHP defines as administrative tours in the protection of law and order.

The VHP accused the administration of not being able to maintain peace and asked for the transfer of the DCP and the regional collector and described it as inadequate to address the situation. A VHP spokesman said that Bandh was necessary because of “not being immersed in despite repeated demands”.

Meanwhile, the Odisha government, led by Mohan Charan Majhi, announced a temporary prohibition on social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook and X (formerly twitter) in several episodes of Cuttack in the early hours of the day.
According to an official declaration, restrictions entered into force on Sunday at 19:00 and will remain in place until 19:00 on Monday. In addition, Ban covers the Cuttack Municipal Company region, Cuttack Development Administration (CDA) and 42 Mouuza region.

Notification, the decision, the regional administration’s internet and social media platforms that can increase the common tension and disrupt the public order that may disrupt the wrong, provocative and inflammatory messages to spread the concerns about the abuse of abuse, he said.

Conflict, Conflict and Arrests

Violence early on Saturday, near the Hathhi Pokhari in Daraghabazar, a dipping procession on Kathajodi river to Debigara on the banks of Kathajodi, drew objections from the locals through loud music. According to the police reports, the dispute increased rapidly, the stones of the gangs and glass bottles were reported to have been injured on roofs with peling stones and glass bottles. The police intervened on a slight Lathi charges to control the situation, but the conflicts were damaged by several vehicles and roadside stalls. As the members of the Puja Committee protested, dipping activities were suspended for about three hours and demanded rapid action against those involved.

The Alyaps then continued under strict security and all the remaining idols were immersed until 9.30 on Sunday.

Authorities arrested six people with more investigations using CCTV images, drone images and eyewitness accounts to identify additional suspects.