8 hurt in group clash ahead of Durga Puja

CUTTACK: Tension ran high among residents of Nuapada and Darkhapatana Sahis under Madhupatna police limits following a group clash between members of two Puja Committees on Thursday.

More than eight persons from both the sides were injured in the clash. Sources said several cops also sustained minor injuries while trying to pacify the irate residents.

As per repots, there was a long-standing dispute over border demarcation among the residents of both the Sahis. A case in this regard is also pending in court.

On the day, members of Nuapada Puja Committee were fixing bamboo poles at the disputed border area for the ensuing Durga Puja festival when members of Darkhapatna Puja Committee opposed them. When Nuapada committee members did not respond, their Darkhapatna counterparts uprooted the bamboo poles following which there was an exchange of hot words.

The situation turned ugly when more members from both the committees reached the spot and clashed with each other.

On being informed, Madhupatna police rushed to the spot and tried to pacify the irate locals but in vain. Later, DCP Sanjeev Arora and Additional DCP Sudarsan Sethy reached the spot with adequate police force and brought the situation under control.

“Two platoons of police force have been deployed at Nuapada and Darkhapatna to check any further untoward incident,” DCP Arora said. Later in the night, a meeting was convened by Cuttack Mahanagar Shanti Committee on DCP office premises for an amicable settlement of the dispute.

“Delegates of both Nuapada and Darkhapatna Puja Committees have given their written consent to refrain from violence. Another meeting will be convened after Bali Jatra for permanent settlement of the border dispute,” Shanti Committee president Debendranath Sahoo said.

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