Gajalaxmi Puja ‘chanda’ collection sparks tension in Dhenkanal, police officer injured

Dispute between two Puja committees over alleged forcible collection of chanda (donation) for Gajalaxmi Puja triggered tension at Jubuli Town-2 police station area in Dhenkanal on Saturday.

Stone pelting was reported after members of Kaibalya Bazar and Jubuli Town-2 puja committees were engaged in a fierce clash yesterday. The officer-in-charge of Jubuli Town-2 police station sustained minor injuries in the incident. 

As many as 20 people from both the puja committees have been detained by police.

Trouble erupted after the Jubuli Town-2 puja committee members demanded ‘puja chanda from a person who belongs to Kaibalya Nagar. The concerned person, who reportedly is constructing a house in Jubuli Town-2 area, refused to give ‘chanda’.

Irate over the refusal, members of JubuliTown-2 puja committee lost their cool and allegedly thrashed some people who were present inside a club located at Kaibalya Nagar area. They also vandalised the club.  

Kabalya Bazar puja committee members tried to stage a protest and a scuffle broke out with the opponents. 

Jubuli Town-2 police station officer sustained minor injuries while trying to control the situation.

“My house is under construction in Jubuli Town-2 area and yet to be completed. A person from Jubuli Town-2 puja committee called me over telephone and asked to give ‘chanda’ for Gajalaxmi Puja. But I politely refused as I did not have money due to the ongoing construction work. Later, he threatened me of dire consequences and other members attacked us inside our club,” said complainant Debashis Nayak.

“Jubuli Town-2 puja committee members demanded Rs 25,000 from Debashis. But when he refused to pay the amount, they threatened him. Though Debashis lodged a complaint in the police station, they vandalized our club and launched a deadly assault on us,” said Sandeep Sarangi, member of Kaibalya Bazar puja committee.

Local people staged a road blockade in Kaibalya Bazar area in the evening in protest against the unlawful activities.  Adequate Police force has been deployed to maintain law and order situation in the area.

(Reported by Rajashree Satpathy)