Odisha Extends Internet Shutdown, Curfew In Cuttack Amid Communal Tensions

The Odisha government has extended the internet shutdown in Cuttack till 7 pm on Tuesday (7 October), following violent clashes during the weekend that left at least 31 people, including 10 policemen, injured, the Hindustan Times reported.

A prohibitory order under Section 144 was also imposed for 36 hours across 13 of the city’s 20 police station areas.

Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central) Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar reviewed the situation along with Additional Police Commissioner Narasingha Bhola and District Magistrate Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde. Kumar said authorities were working toward restoring peace.

“All of us are looking forward to an early peaceful resolution of the matter. All people who have tried to take the law into their own hands will be booked,” she said, adding that those attempting to “damage the social fabric will be taken to task,” He said.

Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh said curfew had been extended in parts of the city till 10 am on Wednesday to prevent any law and order lapses. “No untoward incident occurred after that. Police patrolling is being done everywhere today. Static deployment has been done at sensitive places. It is peaceful now,” he said, confirming that eight people had been arrested and more suspects were being identified.

Violence first broke out in Cuttack’s Daragha Bazar area between Friday and Sunday after locals objected to loud music during Durga idol immersion processions.

The unrest escalated into stone-pelting incidents, injuring six people initially. A second wave of violence erupted on Sunday evening after police stopped a VHP bike rally, leaving 25 people injured, including senior officers Amarendra Panda and Rishikesh Dnyandeo.

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