In the early hours of 4 October 2025, a Durga Puja immersion procession in the Dargah Bazar area of Cuttack, Odisha, turned violent after locals allegedly objected to loud music. A day later a VHP motorcycle rally, held without police permission, clashed with police and shops were set on fire. The state imposed a 36-hour curfew and a 48-hour internet shutdown; by 10 October police said 30 people had been arrested.
Key takeaways
- The Cuttack violence began between 1:30 am and 2 am on 4 October 2025 near Haathi Pokhari in Dargah Bazar, when, according to police, locals objected to loud music in a Durga immersion procession and stones and glass bottles were thrown from rooftops.
- On 5 October 2025 a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) motorcycle rally, which had been refused police permission, clashed with police in Cuttack when stopped from entering sensitive areas; shops near Gourishankar Park were set on fire.
- PTI reported 31 people injured in the two Cuttack clashes, including 10 police personnel; a senior officer was admitted to the ICU and the Cuttack DCP suffered an eye injury.
- Odisha imposed a 36-hour curfew in 13 of Cuttack's 20 police station areas from 10 pm on 5 October 2025, the city's first since the early 1990s, and suspended internet from 7 pm on 5 October until 7 pm on 7 October.
- Cuttack police said 30 people had been arrested by 10 October 2025 in connection with the immersion clash and the VHP rally violence.
- The BJD and Congress blamed the BJP government for the Cuttack violence; the VHP blamed the police and administration; Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi promised strict action against "miscreants".
Background
Cuttack, Odisha's former capital, is known for its Durga Puja, which has drawn on both Hindu and Muslim communities. Muslim artisans have long made the silver and gold "medha" backdrops for the deity The Wire. Congress MLA Sofia Firdous said Durga Puja has been celebrated in the city "for over 500 years" PTI via Deccan Herald.
The violence came in the second year of Odisha's first BJP government. The Indian Express noted a curfew in Balasore in June 2024 and an internet suspension in Bhadrak in June 2025 under it Indian Express.
How it started: the immersion clash
Police said the trouble began between 1:30 am and 2 am on Saturday, 4 October, near Haathi Pokhari in Dargah Bazar. The procession of the Jhanjirimangala Bhagabat Puja Committee was heading to the Kathajodi river Economic Times Orissa Post.
Claim · Police Some locals objected to high-decibel music. The argument escalated when stones and glass bottles were thrown from rooftops, injuring several people including Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo. Police used a "mild lathi charge" Orissa Post. The Indian Express reported that residents objected to "certain songs" Indian Express.
Claim · Syed Ekram Hussain A former Odisha Waqf Board chairperson disputed that account. He told The Wire that songs had been played on the route before without objection. He understood the trouble began when procession members fell against some Muslim boys, who fell against shops and ran to the nearby mosque for help The Wire.
Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh called the incident a "personal quarrel" Scroll. Over 40 idols were held up for nearly three hours, and immersion finished at 9:30 am on 4 October OdishaBytes. Police said six people were arrested Hindustan Times, though Singh was also quoted as saying four were produced in court The Hindu.
Rumours spread that someone had died. Police said on X that "No fatalities have occurred" OdishaBytes.
The VHP bandh call and bike rally
The VHP called a 12-hour Cuttack bandh for Monday, 6 October, alleging police failed to stop the attack on the procession PTI via Tribune. It demanded the transfer of the DCP and the district collector PTI via National Herald.
On the evening of 5 October, a motorcycle rally in support of the bandh went ahead despite the district administration's orders. It started at Bidyadharpur, passed through Dargah Bazar and was to end at Sector 11 of CDA Times of India.
The rally was headed towards some sensitive areas where communal tension could have flared up. As the police took a firm stand and prevented the rally from proceeding further, the participants started pelting stones at the police.
Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh, quoted by The Hindu via Scroll, 5 Oct 2025
Police used lathis, tear gas and rubber bullets PTI via Tribune. Fires were set at 8 to 10 places near Gourishankar Park, and shops and CCTV cameras were damaged OdishaBytes. Some journalists were reportedly hurt Orissa Post.
Timeline
Clash at Haathi Pokhari
Stones and bottles thrown at the procession; DCP among those injured; six arrested, per police HT.
Rally clashes with police
Stone-pelting and arson after police stop the VHP rally; PTI reports 25 injured, including eight police PTI via The Hindu.
Internet suspended
The Home Department suspends mobile internet, broadband and apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook, X, Instagram and Snapchat HT.
Curfew begins
A 36-hour curfew starts in 13 police station areas PTI via The Hindu.
Bandh passes peacefully
The VHP bandh draws a mixed response with no incidents; eight arrested for the rally violence; internet ban extended to 7 pm on 7 October The Hindu OdishaBytes.
Curfew relaxed
Not extended after 24 hours without violence PTI via Orissa Post.
30 arrested
Police hold a flag march and report 30 arrests across both incidents PTI via Rediff.
Curfew and internet shutdown
The curfew covered Dargah Bazar, Mangalabag, Cantonment, Purighat, Lalbag, Bidanasi, Markat Nagar, CDA Phase II, Malgodown, Badambadi, Jagatpur, Bayalis Mouza and Sadar PTI via The Hindu. Essential services and hospitals were exempt, but outsiders were barred from the city except workers and patients for SCB Medical College The Hindu. It was the city's first curfew since the early 1990s Indian Express; OdishaBytes put the gap at almost 34 years OdishaBytes.
Government's position The Home Department said the internet ban was to stop "provocative and inflammatory messages" that could disturb public order HT. It covered the municipal corporation, CDA and 42 Mouza areas. First ordered for 24 hours, it was extended to 7 pm on 7 October on the collector's recommendation OdishaBytes Internet Society.
Security figures varied: 1,800 state police and about 800 central personnel The Hindu, or 50 platoons plus eight central companies including the Rapid Action Force PTI via The Hindu.
Injuries
Counts differ by source. PTI reported six injured in the immersion clash and 25, including eight police, in the rally violence: 31 in all, with 10 police PTI via Outlook. Police's own post put the first clash at four injured OdishaBytes, and The Indian Express reported "over a dozen" police hurt on 5 October Indian Express. Senior officer Amarenda Panda was admitted to the ICU of SCB Medical College PTI via Tribune. No deaths were reported.
Both accounts
VHP's account
Claim · VHP At an 8 October press conference, VHP leader Umashankar Acharya said the procession was attacked with stones and "sharp weapons", called it a "well-planned conspiracy", and blamed police "negligence". He alleged "one-sided arrests" of Hindus, including youths held over Facebook posts Organiser. VHP leader Sujit Kumar Nayak said "it was not they who wanted violence" and that VHP workers were also injured Indian Express.
Police and government account
Police say the rally defied orders and attacked officers who stopped it from entering sensitive areas, and that suspects were identified through CCTV PTI via Tribune. A senior official said arrests were made "irrespective of their political affiliation" Indian Express. Chief Minister Majhi said peace was disturbed "due to the actions of some miscreants" and promised strict action PTI via Tribune.
What the parties said
- BJP: Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab said he had warned police that habitual offenders could cause trouble and blamed "outsiders" for the arson Indian Express. A senior BJP leader admitted it was "an alarm bell" (same source).
- BJD: Naveen Patnaik said "The police appeared completely helpless" and blamed "pressure on law enforcement under the BJP government" Maktoob. MP Sulata Deo said the violence "shows the state government has failed" Indian Express.
- Congress: Claim · Congress State president Bhakta Charan Das alleged that the RSS and VHP brought "goons from Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat" to loot shops Maktoob. MP Pramod Tiwari called it "sponsored and protected by the BJP government" IANS. MLA Sofia Firdous sought action against perpetrators "irrespective of their identity" Indian Express.
- Odisha government vs West Bengal: After Mamata Banerjee reportedly blamed the BJP and Bajrang Dal, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan called her remarks unbecoming of a Chief Minister The Hindu.
Outcome
- Deaths: None, per police.
- Injuries: 31 including 10 police (PTI); counts vary by source.
- Cases: At least three FIRs over the rally violence by 6 October OdishaBytes.
- Arrests: 30 across both incidents by 10 October, per police PTI via Rediff.
- Curfew: 36 hours, relaxed on 7 October.
- Internet: 48 hours, to 7 pm on 7 October.
- Social media: Over 300 accounts monitored; police threatened sedition charges against rumour-mongers The Hindu PTI via Rediff.
- Peace meetings: Held on 12 October with puja, market and masjid committees New Indian Express.
What is still pending
No judicial or independent inquiry was reported in the sources reviewed, though the VHP demanded a high-level probe Maktoob. We found no reports of chargesheets, bail rulings or trials.
Questions people ask
What happened in Cuttack in October 2025?
A Durga immersion procession clash on 4 October was followed by a VHP rally that clashed with police on 5 October. The government imposed a 36-hour curfew and a 48-hour internet shutdown.
What started the Cuttack violence?
Police say locals objected to loud music in the procession at Dargah Bazar and stones and bottles were thrown from rooftops. A former Waqf Board chairperson disputed this and said the music had never been a problem before.
When was the Cuttack curfew lifted?
It ran in 13 of 20 police station areas from 10 pm on 5 October and was relaxed at 10 am on 7 October. The internet ban was ordered to end at 7 pm that day.
How many people were injured and arrested?
PTI reported 31 injured, including 10 police. Police said 30 people were arrested by 10 October.
Did anyone die in the Cuttack violence?
No. Police called reports of a death after the 4 October clash rumours.
Sources
- Economic Times: What happened in Dargha Bazaar that led to clashes, 6 Oct 2025
- Hindustan Times: Curfew in parts of Cuttack, internet suspended, 6 Oct 2025
- Times of India: Cuttack tense again, 5 Oct 2025
- Orissa Post: Fresh violence in Cuttack, internet suspended, 5 Oct 2025
- Scroll: Curfew imposed, internet snapped, 6 Oct 2025
- The Hindu: Curfew in Cuttack, VHP bandh call, 5 Oct 2025
- The Hindu (PTI): Eight arrested, bandh under way, 6 Oct 2025
- Tribune (PTI): 36-hour curfew imposed, 6 Oct 2025
- Tribune (PTI): Fresh violence, internet suspended, 5 Oct 2025
- Deccan Herald (PTI): Majhi, Patnaik appeal for peace, 5 Oct 2025
- National Herald (PTI): VHP calls 12-hour bandh, 5 Oct 2025
- Indian Express: 8 arrested over Cuttack violence, 6 Oct 2025
- Indian Express: Cuttack calm shattered after 30 yrs, Oct 2025
- OdishaBytes: Cuttack remains peaceful after clashes, 6 Oct 2025
- OdishaBytes: Appeals of peace grow louder, 6 Oct 2025
- OdishaBytes: 8 arrested for Sunday violence, 6 Oct 2025
- OdishaBytes: Internet shutdown extended by 24 hours, 6 Oct 2025
- OdishaBytes: Curfew lifted in Cuttack, 7 Oct 2025
- Orissa Post (PTI): Curfew relaxed in Cuttack, 7 Oct 2025
- The Hindu (PTI): Curfew relaxed, restrictions still in place, 7 Oct 2025
- Outlook (PTI): Curfew relaxed in violence-hit Cuttack, 7 Oct 2025
- Internet Society Pulse: Internet suspended in Odisha, Oct 2025
- The Wire: Cuttack's brotherhood and the violence, 7 Oct 2025
- Maktoob: Cuttack on edge as VHP rallies defy ban, Oct 2025
- Maktoob: Cuttack restores calm after Durga Puja clashes, Oct 2025
- IANS: Opposition leaders call Cuttack violence BJP-sponsored, 6 Oct 2025
- Organiser: VHP demands stern action over Cuttack procession attack, 8 Oct 2025
- The Hindu: Odisha government reacts to West Bengal CM's comment, 9 Oct 2025
- Rediff (PTI): Police conduct flag march in Cuttack, 10 Oct 2025
- New Indian Express: Police hold peace meetings in Cuttack, 13 Oct 2025