Bhubaneswar, Oct 6: In the wake of fresh violence in Cuttack during a bike rally organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Sunday evening (October 5) over the attack on a Durga Puja immersion procession, the authorities imposed a curfew in several sensitive areas of the city for the next 36 hours, said officials on Monday.

Speaking at a press conference in Cuttack on Sunday, Commissioner of Police S. Dev Datta Singh said, “The situation has been brought under control. A curfew has been imposed in the violence-affected area and other vulnerable areas for the next 36 hours. Any person found participating in riots will be dealt with strictly. Strict action will also be taken against those involved in today’s violence.”

The Commissioner of Police also informed that the curfew will remain in force in Dargha Bazar, Mangalabag, Cantonment, Puri Ghat, Lalbag, Bidanasi, Markatnagar, CDA-Phase II, Malgodown, Badambadi, Jagatpur, 42 Mouza and Sadar Police station area for the next 36 hours.

He, however, clarified that medical and other essential services, government offices, schools, and market areas where milk and basic groceries will be available have been exempted from the curfew.

Singh said that four persons had been injured in the violent incident perpetrated by some individuals during the Durga Idol immersion at Dargha Bazar late Friday night.

He noted that six accused persons identified through CCTV footage analysis were arrested on Saturday and presented in court. Singh also rubbished a rumour doing the rounds on social media platforms regarding the death of one of the four victims injured during the violence on Friday night. He also warned action against the persons spreading such rumours on social media.

The commiserate police informed that in the course of the clash, four individuals sustained injuries. Of these, three (Pintu Mahar, Mukesh Mahar and Subhashree Jena) have been discharged following treatment on October 4. The fourth person (Sankar Biswal) remains under medical care and is currently stable, talking and not in any danger. No fatalities have occurred in connection with this incident.

“Protesting the incident that occurred on Friday night, the VHP had proposed to organise a bike rally. However, the Commissionerate police did not grant permission, anticipating potential disturbances. Ignoring police instructions, the protesters attempted to enter sensitive areas where communal peace could have been disrupted. The police stopped and warned them, after which the protesters pelted stones at the officers, injuring 25 personnel, including eight seriously. The police later dispersed the crowd using baton charges and rubber bullets,” said the police commissioner.

The Home Department had earlier also suspended Internet services in Cuttack city and surrounding areas for 24 hours on Sunday. Meanwhile, the VHP has called for a 12-hour bandh on Monday protesting against the violent incident that took place at Dargha Bazar area of the city on Friday night.

Mumbai: The son of a local leader from Shiv Sena (UBT) was arrested by Nirmal Nagar police on October 1 for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl inside the gents’ public toilet in Bandra East. The City Civil and Sessions Court in Mazgaon sent him into police custody until October 6.

According to the police, on October 1, the accused took the victim into the public gents’ toilet in Bandra East and allegedly raped her, after which he threatened her life. The case has been registered under the POCSO Act. The investigation is on.

Thane: Three people, including a US national, were arrested in Maharashtra’s Thane district on Saturday for allegedly attempting to convert villagers to Christianity. The incident occurred in Chimbipada, a locality in Bhiwandi and came to light after a video showing the police confronting the accused went viral on social media.

In the video, the foreign national can be seen speaking to a group of locals gathered inside a house. Police officials, upon reaching the spot, questioned him and his companions but reportedly received vague and unsatisfactory responses. As a result, all three individuals were taken into custody for further investigation.

According to the police, the arrests followed a complaint filed by a local resident who alleged that a religious gathering had been organised on Friday afternoon outside one of the houses in the village. During the meeting, the accused allegedly distributed books on Christianity to men, women and children, while also leading them in prayers. The complaint further stated that the accused told villagers that embracing Christianity would help cure their ailments and bring them peace, reported PTI.

The arrested individuals have been identified as James Watson (58), a US citizen, Sainath Ganpati Sarpe (42), a resident of Vasai and Manoj Kolha (35), outside whose house the gathering reportedly took place.

Following an inquiry, the police booked the trio under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for allegedly promoting religious enmity and attempting to hurt the sentiments of a community. They have also been charged under the Foreigners Act for violations related to visa and travel restrictions, as well as under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.

Officials confirmed that Watson, the American national, is being questioned regarding his purpose of visit and whether he possessed the necessary permissions to engage in such gatherings. The other two accused are also under interrogation to determine their roles in organising and facilitating the event. All three accused remain in police custody as the Thane rural police continue their probe into the alleged conversion attempt.