Bhubaneswar: The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has called for strict and immediate action against those allegedly involved in the recent attack on a Durga visarjan immersion procession in Cuttack’s Dargah Bazar area. The organization has urged the state administration to arrest the “jihadi elements” and masterminds behind the incident, holding the police responsible for their failure to prevent the violence.
Speaking at a press conference in Bhubaneswar on the evening of October 8 , VHP Odisha (Purv) Joint General Secretary Umashankar Acharya stated that during the immersion procession of Goddess Durga revered by Hindus certain jihadi Muslim miscreants attacked the procession with stones and sharp weapons. The attackers also attempted to damage the pratima, resulting in chaos and injuries.
Acharya alleged that the police and district administration failed to take prompt preventive measures during the festivities. “The administration’s negligence directly resulted in the attack on the Hindu procession,” he said, adding that instead of targeting the real culprits, the police were arresting innocent Hindus.
“Following the incident, the police began one-sided arrests, focusing on Hindus and ignoring the actual perpetrators. It seems these actions are aimed at diverting attention from the real issue,” he stated.
VHP Questions Police Transparency and Seeks Clarity on Victims’ Condition
Acharya claimed that several Hindus sustained injuries during the mob attack in the Rasulakadam and Hatipokhari areas of Cuttack. “The police and administration have yet to clarify where these injured individuals are and what their medical condition is,” he said, expressing concern that the authorities were suppressing information. “If any victims have succumbed to their injuries, the police must disclose the truth instead of concealing it,” he added.
The VHP leader further asserted that repeated attacks on Hindu processions in Odisha indicate a “pattern” meant to test the patience of the Hindu community. “Such incidents have occurred before in various parts of the state. When processions of other communities are conducted, they pass peacefully without any violence. But whenever Hindus hold religious events or processions, these conspiracies are orchestrated,” Acharya said.
“A Pre-Planned Conspiracy”
Describing the incident as a “well-planned conspiracy,” Acharya alleged that the attack was organized by extremist elements intent on disrupting Hindu festivals. “The nature of the attack shows it was not spontaneous. The manner in which weapons were used proves that the assault was premeditated,” he remarked.
He accused intelligence agencies of a “complete failure” in detecting and preventing the violence. “Had the intelligence department performed its duties effectively, the police could have taken advance measures to prevent such chaos,” he said.
The VHP also blamed police and district authorities for “administrative failure and lack of foresight,” claiming that these lapses led to the unfortunate situation in Cuttack.
VHP criticises arrest of Hindu Youths for social media posts
Acharya criticised the arrest of several Hindu youths for posting in support of their community on Facebook following the Cuttack incident. “It is deeply unfortunate that those who speak in defense of Hindu interests on social media are being arrested immediately, while those who post derogatory remarks against Bhagwan Jagannath, Bhagwan Ram, Maa Durga, and Maa Sita face no action at all,” he said.
“Why does the police act swiftly against Hindu voices but remain silent when our deities are insulted? Who is stopping the police from taking equal action?” Acharya questioned.
VHP’s Demands
The VHP has urged the Odisha government to take immediate and impartial action. Their key demands include:
- Arresting and prosecuting the masterminds and perpetrators involved in the attack.
- Conducting a fair and transparent investigation into the incident.
- Releasing all innocent Hindus who have been “wrongly detained.”
- Identifying and deporting illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators who pose a “serious security threat” to the state.
“The presence of Bangladeshi infiltrators in various parts of Odisha, including Cuttack, has become a grave concern. They should be identified and expelled at the earliest,” Acharya said.
He warned that if the state government and police fail to act impartially, the growing resentment within the Hindu community could lead to further unrest. “If the anger of Hindus escalates, the police administration alone will be responsible for the consequences,” he cautioned.
Several senior VHP leaders attended the press conference, including Eastern Odisha working president Pabitra Kumar Swain, Prant organizing secretary Sharat Chandra Pradhan, Prant prachar pramukh Sujit Kumar Nayak, Bhubaneswar district secretary Shubhranshu Shekhar Satapathy, and Pralay Sahu.
The VHP leaders collectively condemned the attack, demanded justice for the victims, and appealed to the administration to maintain transparency, neutrality, and law and order across the state.
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