Group clash in Cuttack ahead of puja

Puja committee boundary disputes between neighbouring localities once again sparked tension in Cuttack city today when two puja pandals under Madhupatna police station fought a pitched battle.
The incident, first of its kind in this year, is likely to play a spoilsport in the Durga puja revelry next month.
The police said that the trouble began when some youths of Durghapatna opposed the pandal preparation of neighbouring Nuapada puja committee alleging that the latter had encroached upon a disputed area in the locality.
The youths attacked each other with bamboos, stones and glass bottles in which at least five persons from both camps received minor injuries.

The police brought the situation under control and asked the organisers to maintain status quo.
At least two platoons of armed police are currently deployed in the locality.