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.

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 id

See Full Page