Violence in Cuttack during Durga idol immersion, govt suspends internet

Cuttack remained tense on Sunday following fresh incidents of violence linked to a group clash two days ago during a Durga idol immersion procession even as Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik urged citizens to maintain communal harmonyMajhi and Patnaiks appeal come after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad VHP organised a motorcycle rally in the evening defying the district administrations orderIn view of the prevailing law and order situation the state government suspended internet services in areas under Cuttack Municipal Corporation Cuttack Development Authority CDA and the adjoining 42 Mauza region from 7pm on Sunday to 7 pm on Monday to prevent the spread of misinformationAccording to officials CCTV cameras installed along the route were damaged and shops in Gourishankar Park area were allegedly set on fire after police stopped the processionThe rally which began at Bidyadharpur on the eastern outskirts of the city moved through key areas including the Dargah Bazar locality the epicentre of the violence that took place on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday before ending at Sector 11 of CDA on the citys western fringeParticipants were heard chanting Jai Shri Ram as they moved through the cityWhile appealing for peace Majhi also said strict action will be taken against violatorsMajhi in a statement issued by the Chief Ministers Office CMO expressed sorrow over the disturbances and appealed to citizens to maintain communal harmonyCuttack is a thousandyearold city known for its brotherhood Due to the actions of some miscreants the peace of the city has been disturbed in recent days he saidThe CM said the government was keeping a close eye on troublemakers and strict action would be taken against them in accordance with the lawPatnaik also expressed concern over the law and order situation and said Odisha has the reputation of being a peaceloving stateBarabatiCuttack MLA Sofia Firdus of Congress said she is iquestsaddened and worriediquest over the developmentOur 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 saidMeanwhile the VHP has given a 12hour bandh call in the city on October 6 in protest against the group clash during the Durga idol processionClashes broke out between 130 am and 2 am on Saturday near Haathi Pokhari in Daraghabazar area when an immersion procession was heading towards Debigara on the banks of the Kathajodi riverAccording to officials the violence erupted after some locals objected to highdecibel music being played during the processionThe arguments soon escalated into a confrontation when a mob started pelting stones and glass bottles from rooftops on the processions injuring several revellers including Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh DnyandeoAccording to police six persons were arrestedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever