Tension flares in Koraput after police bar jatra actor Nisha Maharana performing on stage

A jatra show in Lakshmipur under Koraput district witnessed high tension on Tuesday night after police allegedly prevented popular opera artiste Nisha Maharana from entering the Ashtashambhu Opera pandal, despite the organisers having announced her participation in advance.

According to reports, the Jatra Committee had widely advertised that Maharana would perform, drawing a large turnout of spectators. However, when local police stopped her from reaching the venue, citing administrative reasons, unrest broke out among the audience.

Eyewitnesses said the situation escalated rapidly as angry spectators began shouting and vandalising chairs inside the pandal. The disorder unfolded even in the presence of police personnel. With the crowd turning increasingly unruly, the performance had to be called off midway for safety reasons.

Sources confirmed that Nisha Maharana was in Lakshmipur at the time of the incident but was not allowed to enter the venue. This led to resentment among the audience, who had gathered specifically to watch her performance.

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So far, neither the police nor the Jatra Committee has issued an official statement on the incident. The abrupt disruption of the Ashtashambhu Opera show has left locals demanding clarity on the reasons behind the restriction and the subsequent chaos.