Communal tension has been prevailing at Haladia under Kusiapala GP of Derabish block since last Thursday night between the Hindus and minority community members after the fellow villagers took out the idol of Anthua Gopal in a decorated palanquin in a procession with brass band and bursting fire crackers through the Muslim Basti with an aim to participate at the Balipatana Dola Yatra.

According to Prabhat Roul of Haladia, they were taking the palanquin of the lord without bursting fire crackers and playing the brass band as per the restriction of fellow minority community members as the evening prayer was going on in the local mosque and Madrasa. But after crossing the mosque, when Hindu brethren started the procession once again just 300 meter away from the mosque and Madrasa, the minority community members allegedly came out of their houses with taking lathis and later scuffle erupted between the communities, he alleged.

Sk Saffatulla of Haladia, alleged that the Hindu brethren had never taken out the lord’s palanquin procession through the Muslim basti. They first time used the basti route instead of using the main road for communicating to Balipatana for participating in laxmanjew Dola Melan without intimating the village committee. So, the Muslims opposed them, he added.

Tension started when some Hindu, who were under influence of alcohol and went with the procession, allegedly created trouble by creating noise. No group class has been erupted. The palanquin passed through the Muslim Basti and the Hindus by respecting the Muslim religion held the palanquin procession without bursting fire crackers or beating drums.

Meanwhile, Derabish BDO Rudra Narayan Mohanty, Kendrapada SDPO Nrusingha Swain and the village gentlemen of both the community organised a meeting in the village. It has been decided by the officials to solve the problem amicably with discussion on coming Wednesday as Holi celebration and Dola melan in the township area would be held on Sunday.