This Odisha City Will Not See Durga Puja Procession This Year To Maintain 'Peace'

The district administration decided not to allow the immersion procession of Durga Puja idols in view of the violence that took place during the Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in April.

New Delhi: Ahead of Durga Puja, immersion processions of Durga idols have been prohibited in Odisha's Sambalpur district to maintain peace and order in the city, officials said.

The decision was taken at the peace and coordination committee meeting on Tuesday in the presence of Sambalpur collector Ananya Das and SP Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo.

The district administration decided not to allow the immersion procession of Durga Puja idols in view of the violence that took place during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in April, they said.

Speaking to reporters, Bhamoo said, "We requested the Durga Puja organizing committees not to hold immersion processions this year. However, permission has been granted for Kalash Yatra and Ravan Podi."

In the meeting, it was decided that the idols will be taken for immersion on vehicles.

The city hosts around 47 Durga puja celebrations, officials said.

In July, the district administration prohibited Muharram and Hanuman Jayanti processions in the city for a year. This apart, Ganesh Puja immersion processions were also not held on roads here this year. 

Earlier in April, ten cops were injuries in an incident of violence that broke out during a bike rally held in Sambalpur. The bike rally was organised as part of the celebrations for Hanuman Janmotsav that was observed on April 6.

A temporary stall and several vehicles were torched during the violence. The violence reportedly ensued when stones were allegedly hurled at the bikers as they were riding through the Bhudapara and Sunapli areas.

According to Odisha TV, the rally, which started at Dhanupali Police Station Chhak, was passing through the Motijharan Chhak when the stones were allegedly hurled at them. These areas come under the jurisdiction of the Dhanupalli police station.

Last year, several people, including police personnel, were arrested for participating in communal violence in Odisha's Joda on Ram Navami. The clash allegedly occurred after an argument over hoisting a Ram Navami flag at a Shiva Temple in Ward 4 of Joda, which is a Muslim-dominated area. Section 144 was clamped in the area as attempts to persuade the two communities to calm down proved futile.