By_shalini oraon
Cuttack goes on high alert, often leading to an internet shutdown and a city-wide shutdown (bandh), primarily for one key reason: To maintain public order during major religious festivals, most notably the Durga Puja immersions or other festivals that see massive processions.
Here’s a breakdown of why this happens:
1. The Primary Reason: Managing Massive Religious Processions
Cuttack, the former capital of Odisha, is famous for its grand and elaborate celebrations of festivals like Durga Puja and Kali Puja. The city is renowned for its stunning, artistically crafted silver and gold idols (chandi medha, tara medha).
· Scale of the Event: On immersion days, millions of devotees pour onto the streets to witness and follow the processions of hundreds of idols as they are taken to the river for immersion.
· Risk of Communal Tension: With such massive, emotionally charged crowds from different communities, even a small spark—a misunderstanding, a rumor, or an accidental clash—can escalate into large-scale communal violence.
· Security Challenge: Managing the crowd, ensuring safe passage for the processions, and preventing stampedes is a monumental task for the police and administration.
2. Why the Extreme Measures?
The administration takes these pre-emptive steps as a “better safe than sorry” approach.
· Internet Shutdown: This is a controversial but frequently used tool. The administration justifies it by stating it prevents:
· Spread of Rumors and Fake News: In a volatile situation, a viral but false message or video on WhatsApp or social media can incite immediate and widespread violence.
· Mobilization of Miscreants: It makes it harder for anti-social elements to coordinate and gather in sensitive areas.
· City Shutdown (Bandh): This often refers to the voluntary or enforced closure of shops, businesses, and public transport.
· To Thin Out Crowds: By limiting non-essential movement, the administration reduces the overall number of people on the streets, making crowd control more manageable.
· Security Deployment: It allows security forces to deploy and move freely without the obstruction of regular traffic.
3. Other Potential Reasons (Less Common but Possible)
While religious festivals are the most common cause, a high alert could also be declared for:
· Political Bandhs or Protests: Cuttack, as a major political center, can sometimes see large-scale political protests or rallies that have the potential to turn violent.
· Law and Order Concerns: Specific intelligence about a potential threat or the aftermath of a sensitive event might prompt such measures.
· VIP Visits: Extremely high-profile visits can also lead to tightened security, but rarely to the extent of a full internet shutdown.
Summary
In essence, when you hear that Cuttack is on high alert with the internet off and the city shut down, it is overwhelmingly likely that the city is in the midst of a major religious festival, particularly the immersion procession of Durga or Kali idols. The administration imposes these strict measures as a pre-emptive strategy to prevent communal clashes, manage colossal crowds, and ensure that the celebrations do not descend into violence.