A team of Malgodown Police arrested the two members of the College Square Puja Committee named Sarat Kumar Behera and Rakesh Kumar Behera for forcing a businessman to pay Rs 13000 as donation for the forthcoming Durga Puja.
As per reports, one of the accused, a 'dahi bara' seller while the other one, a snacks vendor, threatened the businessman when he expressed his helplessness towards paying the chanda.
Cuttack Zone-I ACP Amarendra Panda informed reporters that the action has been taken based on the allegations lodged by the businessman against the College Square Puja Committee. Both of them have been forwarded to court.
Panda further warned that if police finds the involvement of other people in the case, they too will be put behind the bars.
"Police is maintaining tight vigil to ensure that no one can collect donation from anyone for puja purposes in Cuttack. We will ensure zero tolerance & strict action against any kind of forceful collection & extortion in the name of Puja," said Panda.
The ACP also urged the public to inform the police in case anyone comes across such incidents. Cuttack DCP has assured that the identity of the informant(s) will be kept confidential and stringent action will be taken against the accused.
Meanwhile, the College Square Puja Committee has refuted the allegations of forcible chanda collection from people in Cuttack.
As per the guidelines, Puja Committees have been asked to strictly confine the height of the idols to 4 feet. However, puja committees coming under the jurisdiction of Cuttack Municipal Corporation Puja have opposed the decision.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the pronouncement, the Cuttack Puja Committees' President and BJD leader Prabhat Tripathy has shot questions to the government to explain how reducing the idol's size will reduce COVID impact.
Tripathy said the government should take the decision considering the religious sentiments of people. Relaxing the COVID restrictions will not lead to the unprecedented spread of the pandemic.
As per the instructions laid out by the Special Relief Commissioner, puja pandals/mandaps shall also be covered from three sides. The 4th side shall also be covered in a way not to allow any public view of the idols. There shall be no darshan by public/ devotees.
The govt directive also states that, at any given point of time, there shall not be more than 7 persons including organisers (Kartas) and priests and support staff present at the puja pandals/mandaps.
BJD leader Tripathy while briefing media said, "I don't get it, how limiting the idol size will help in controlling COVID spread. Such a decision has drawn fire from different quarters. I think the govt has just passed on the previous year's instructions. It could have been sensible had the government taken the decision using logic."
Meanwhile, Dharmesh Nayak, Deputy Chairman of Cuttack Mahanagar Shanti Committee, said, "We are dissatisfied with such a decision of the govt. Shanti committee comprises of 140 puja pandals/mandaps and if over a half of the total pandals are expressing dissatisfaction, we will certainly have to present their views to the govt. We strongly condemn the new SOP and request the government to rethink over the decision. "
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.
By Sandeep Sahu
The clashes involving a turf battle over territory in Cuttack on Wednesday that left three people injured have brought the spotlight back on religious ceremonies as a perennial source of conflict in our society. Just last week, we had three different cities/towns in three different parts of the state – Rourkela, Soro and Pattamundai – under prohibitory orders for prolonged periods after clashes over the immersion of Ganesh/Viswakarma idols. These clashes are not always between two religious communities, but also between groups of people belonging to the same community but different localities – as was the clash between Nuapada and Darakhapatna in the Millennium City today.
Of course, the biggest source of concern for the authorities is a clash involving members of two religious communities – as happened in Rourkela. A procession of a Hindu god passing through an area inhabited by members of the minority community or a Tazia procession passing through a predominantly Hindu area is the ultimate security nightmare.
But as the Cuttack incident on Wednesday shows, Sahi Pujas (community puja pandals) are not a lesser danger. They no doubt foster camaraderie and fellow feeling among residents of an area. (That was perhaps the idea they were conceived in the first place for). But they also spawn enmity between sahis (localities) inevitably leading to clashes that frequently turn violent. The one-up-manship (“My pandal is better than yours”) accentuates existing fault lines between sahis and often ends up in clashes. ‘Encroachment’ into each other’s territory is another cause of friction, as was the case in the Nuapada-Darakhapatna clash on Wednesday. The way sahi elders talked about ‘our area’ and ‘their area’ would have been laughable had it not been such a serious matter.
If clashes can break out when the Durga Puja is still a good two weeks away, it’s only natural that the danger increases manifold during the Puja and its aftermath. A puja procession of one sahi winding its way through another sahi is a virtual ticking bomb. All it needs to get ignited is a mere slogan or a comment by some mischievous, hot-headed youth, who may belong to either side. Even the loud music and frenzied dancing by the processionists often is enough provocation for the other side to go berserk. The consumption of alcohol, which has become such an integral part of religious procession these days, ensures that the participants are on a short fuse all the way, ready to pounce on anyone who dares to come in their way.
So, what real options does the administration have to ensure that such situation does not arise at all? None, to be honest.
Banning religious processions of any kind is out of question because it ‘would hurt the religious sentiments’ of people. Limiting the number of puja pandals is not an option either because it would be quickly dubbed trampling on the religious freedom and ‘sahi pride’ of the people. Given that local politicians are invariably patrons of such events, they would be the first to oppose any such move. Imposing restrictions on the consumption of alcohol, often the major reason for clashes, is not a viable option either because the drunk crowd could turn its ire on the cops, making things more unmanageable than they already are. Use of force too could boomerang because it could create more problems than it solves.
In the circumstances, just about the only sensible course open to the law and order machinery is to keep a strict vigil on the activities of habitual mischief-mongers – before, during and after religious events – and banking on the good sense of sahi elders and in their ability to rein in potential trouble-makers.
General Secretary Of Cuttack Mahanagar Purbanchal Shanti Committee, Prafulla Sahu,said, “We had no information regarding who all were invited by Commissionerate Police to attend the meeting. However, as he (Moquim) is an elected people’s representative, he should have been called to the meeting,” said Sahu.
Sahu further stated that only Police Commissioner can say about the goof up. “As Cuttack is known for its brotherhood and religious harmony, we feel that such issues will be resolved,” Sahu added.
Secretary of Station Bazar Puja Committee, Subashish Patnaik, stated, “It is unfortunate that the sitting MLA was not invited to the coordination meeting.”
Clarifying on his absence, MLA Mohammed Moquim said, “I had no information about the meeting convened by Commissionerate Police.”
Though Police Commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi stated that all the members of Puja and Shanti Committee attended the meeting, he refused to comment on the absence of sitting MLA at the meeting.
At the preparatory meeting, senior police officials stressed on putting a check on noise pollution and installation of CCTV cameras at various puja pandals across the city.
The Commissionerate Police also handed over a set of instructions to several puja committees with the emphasis on complete ban on DJs this year. Special Police Officers (SPOs) from each puja committees will be appointed to regulate traffic and make necessary arrangements for the smooth conduct of the festival.
“We have urged puja committees to check noise pollution and all the organisers have agreed to follow the guidelines,” said Police Commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi.
District Collector Bhabani Shankar Chayani said goddess Durga can be worshipped at different pandals without devotees just like deities are worshipped in temples. However, permission will not be granted for community celebration of the festival in view of Covid-19 pandemic.
Durga Puja will be held without devotees in #Cuttack. District Collector says the festival will be held in puja mandaps just like in temples but without participation of the public. #Odisha #DurgaPuja2020 pic.twitter.com/lzf9BQphCA
— OTV (@otvnews) August 26, 2020
"We will not allow community celebration of Durga Puja that may see a huge congregation of people. However, there is no prohibition for individual celebration of the festival," Chayani said.
The Collector further said that there is no restriction on the making of Durga idol. "Usually permission for idol making is not sought. The puja committees seek permission for the congregation. So there will not be any restriction on the making of idols," he added.
The members of the puja committees in the Silver City welcomed the decision of the district administration and assured to celebrate the festival by following all the guidelines.
Pradeep Sahu of Mangla Puja Committee said, “We had earlier urged the district administration to reconsider the decision. We thank the Collector for allowing the festival. We will organise the festival by following all the guidelines.”
“I welcome the revised decision of the district Collector. However, it would have been more appropriate, had the Collector taken the decision after consulting with the peace committee members,” said a member of Manglabag Puja Committee.
Notably, a petition was filed in the Orissa High Court by Cuttack Balu Bazaar Puja Committee, which is one of the oldest Puja committees in the Silver City, seeking permission to hold Durga Puja this year. The committee members had assured the court that the festival will be celebrated with strict adherence to social distancing and other safety guidelines in force in view of the pandemic.
There is a god or goddess for every occasion and every section of the society celebrates the festivals with gaiety and religious harmony in the city. People from all walks of life come together and celebrate the festivals in a grand way, justifying the sobriquet ‘City of Brotherhood’ which Cuttack earned over the years.
However, 2020 is going to be very different for ‘Katakias’ and, all thanks to the pandemic. Even though the festive fever has gripped the city, netizens are barred from pandal hopping as mandaps are performing the Durga Puja in closed doors this year.
With the restrictions are in place, the roadside vendors, who set up food stalls during the 10-day puja celebrations and cater to the needs of the visitors, are uncertain about their business. The fear of contamination, coupled with the restrictions imposed by the administration, has compounded their woes, said the traders.
Preeti Sen, who has been running a restaurant since the last three years near Shelter Chaak, said, "I had good business in the last the two Durga Pujas. From Navmi the business gains momentum and reaches its peak on Bhasani (immersions). But due to corona this year, my restaurant has been witnessing very less footfall on any average day this year. Hence, the chances making good business during this puja season are very dim."
"I regularly set up a dahibara and aludum stall during Durga Puja. However, I am unsure about putting up a stall this year due to the pandemic. As restrictions are in force, it will be difficult for us to sale eatables," said Kalia Sahoo, a dahibara, aludum seller.
Echoing in the same voice, Karuna, a chat stall owner in Chandinchowk area said, "Our business is down since long as people prefer not to eat outside food fearing contamination. I was hoping a turnaround during the Puja. But following the government decision to bar congregation of devotees at the mandaps, I have given up hopes."
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