Ganesh Immersion Turns Tragic in Odisha; 1 Killed

One person was killed and 10 others were injured in a clash between two groups over playing music during a Ganesh idol immersion procession in Nayagarh district on Sunday night. Harihara Swain was killed when he was trying to protect his son from the attackers, a police officer said.

The incident took place in Karadapalli village under the jurisdiction of Fatehgarh police station following an altercation between people from Pathapur and Karadapalli areas during the procession, he said. Irate locals staged a protest at Bhapur market on Monday and demanded the immediate arrest of the accused. They lifted the protest after receiving assurance from the police, he said.

The injured persons have been sent to a local hospital, while the body of the deceased person has been sent for post-mortem examination, the officer said. We have registered a murder case on the basis of a complaint lodged at the local police station. Four suspect persons have been detained while the investigation is on, said S Susree, superintendent of police, Nayagarh.

In another incident, four persons were injured in a clash between two groups over past enmity, during a Ganesh idol immersion procession in Patrapada area of Bhubaneswar on Sunday night, another officer said.

The injured persons were taken to AIIMS-Bhubaneswar and Capital Hospital here. The situation was brought under control after the intervention of the police, he said. Meanwhile, three youths were injured after coming in contact with a wire while climbing a DJ vehicle during an immersion procession in Konark area of Puri district, police said.

The three injured were admitted to Gop Hospital. One of the injured, who was in critical condition, was shifted to a medical establishment in the state capital Bhubaneswar, they said.

Also, a woman was swept away in the strong currents of the Mahanadi River while taking a bath after Ganesh idol immersion in Khudurukuni in Banki area of Cuttack district on Monday morning. Fire service personnel launched a search operation to rescue the woman.