The Cuttack Police arrested at least eight people for their alleged involvement in Sunday's violence and arson in Cuttack that triggered a 36-hour curfew in the city and internet suspension, police said. Sunday's violence occurred during a motorcycle rally taken out by groups of men seeking support for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s call for a 12-hour bandh in Cuttack Monday. The bandh is being observed in protest against the violence that broke out in the early hours of Saturday, when locals allegedly objected to certain songs being played during the immersion procession and pelted stones. Six people were arrested in this connection. “The situation is under control now and there are no reports of fresh violence in any pockets in the city. If anybody will try to create disturbances, we have already warned that strict action will be taken against such individuals. We have so far identified eight persons in connection with violence on Sunday and the process to identify more persons is on,” Bhubaneswar-Cuttack police Commissioner S Dev Dutta Singh said. Singh said three FIRs have been lodged so far for the violence Sunday while individuals are also approaching police with FIR. Over a dozen police personnel sustained injuries during the violence Sunday while several shops were vandalised and vehicles were torched by the protectors. Police said the violence broke out after they tried to stop the bike rally by protesters entering certain sensitive pockets in the city. The protesters allegedly pelted stones at the police, prompting them to use tear gas to disperse the mob. Over 60 platoons of police force including central armed police force have been deployed in Cuttack to maintain peace and order in the city. Normal life is affected severely in Cuttack due to the curfew that has been enforced in 13 police limits in the city. Though the emergency services are exempted under the purview of curfew, people from different parts of Odisha coming to SCB medical college and hospital in Cuttack are seen facing difficulties due to the curfew. As the state government has imposed a 24-hour internet ban in Cuttack city, the Odisha Police issued an advisory asking people to desist from spreading false and provocative posts on social media in other parts of the state. The advisory warned strict action against those spreading false and misleading posts. Odisha's Director-General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania and other senior officers are in Cuttack.
