On the evening of October 6, around 6,000 Hindutva men draped in saffron shawls holding massive bamboo sticks stormed Dargah Bazaar — a Muslim majority area in Odisha’s Cuttack and started vandalizing public property including shops and vehicles.
Visuals that emerged on social media show the extent of damage done by the mob on the road that just a day earlier was bustling with people shopping, eating at stalls and enjoying the evening.
The Observer Post reached out to several locals who explained what led to communal tensions. They alleged that two days earlier, a Durga idol immersion procession had taken place. During the procession, on Saturday, Hindu men reportedly played loud DJ music right in front of the Dargah. Some among them allegedly passed lewd comments at a Muslim girl, which further enraged members of the Muslim community.
When a few Muslims approached the group, requesting them to lower the volume and move past the Dargah respectfully, the men allegedly refused to comply. Tensions escalated after reports emerged that some Hindu men had urinated on the Dargah walls, leading to a heated exchange between the two groups.
Reportedly, stone pelting took place from both sides prompting police intervention. During the chaos, five policemen were injured. Six men were arrested after reviewing the CCTV footage. The police resolved the issue, made peace and dispersed the crowd.
An internet shutdown was imposed from October 5 at 7 p.m. to October 7 at 7 p.m.
However, Hindutva group — Vishwa Hindu Parishad announced a 12-hour Bandh on October 6, Monday accusing the police of “failing to stop the processions from being attacked.”
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com. Read the full story here.