Cuttack: Tension ran high in Madhupatna area in the city today following a group clash between the people of Nuapada and Darakhapatna over fixing of bamboo for the ensuing Durga Puja scheduled next month.
However, police brought the situation under control after pacifying the two warring groups.
Talking to media persons, DCP Sanjeev Arora said there has been a long-standing border dispute between the people of Nuapada and Darakhapatna areas for Dussehra puja celebration. “A meeting was held earlier for an amicable solution. But today there was tension in the area. As a precautionary move, police force is deployed in the area and efforts are on to take action against those involved in the violence”, he added.
Chandramani Parida, president, Darakhapatna Puja Samiti said the incident took place as the people of Nuapada fixed bamboo on the road inside our area. As our boys protested them, they pelted stones at them in which about eight people of our locality were injured.
Asked who is responsible for the incident, Parida said the administration has to take the blame. Each year, a new police officer is posted as IIC of Madhupatna police station. Since he does not know about the problems of these two localities, he fails to solve the problem.
He further said the issue was discussed at the Shanti Committee meeting last year and the decision went in our favour. “We have all the documents pertaining to the decision taken at the meeting to substantiate our claim. But considering what happened today, we have decided that we will not perform Dussehra this year”, Parida pointed out.
Samaresh Bhuyan, president of Nuapada Sri Durga Yuvak Sangh, said the members of the Sangh had gone to fix the bamboo on the road which was opposed by the people of Darakhapatna who later attacked the secretary of the Sangh.
“As per the decision taken at the meeting last year in the presence of Madhupatna IIC and ACP, the demarcation was set. We were fixing the bamboo inside our area. Still then they attacked our members in presence of the police. We will punish them after the Puja is over”, he added.