Cuttack clash: Anti-socials were provoked by certain people, says MP Bhartruhari Mahtab

Senior parliamentarian Bhartruhari Mahtab made a startling revelation on Monday regarding the recent unrest in Cuttack City, stating that anti-social elements released from jail were allegedly incited by certain individuals to fuel chaos in the city.

Also Read: Cuttack clash: Eight arrested so far in connection with violence, informs Twin City Police Commissioner

Speaking to the media, Mahtab stated, “Some of the people involved were recently released from prison, and they were provoked by others. I had prior intelligence about this and shared the same.”

Mahtab also emphasised the need to identify habitual troublemakers early and take necessary action to prevent such incidents. “There are individuals with a history of creating disturbances. They should have been tracked and dealt with beforehand,” Mahtab said.

The MP expressed confidence in the steps being taken by the State government, saying they would soon help restore normalcy and public peace in the city.

“Some people have the habit of creating a nuisance, and those should have been identified well ahead of time. I had alerted the administration beforehand about those people. The information that I had was communicated to the government,” the MP claimed.

Worth mentioning, in the wake of unrest in Cuttack, police have arrested eight people for their alleged involvement in the violence, vandalism, and attacks on law enforcement personnel, Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh confirmed today.

The arrests were made after CCTV footage and other evidence from the clash sites were examined. The accused are currently being interrogated for their roles in instigating the violence and damaging public and private properties.

Sixty platoons of police force have been deployed across the city. In addition, at least eight companies of paramilitary forces, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), BSF, CRPF, and Odisha Swift Action Force, have been mobilised and stationed at key locations and sensitive junctions to ensure public safety and prevent any further unrest.