Palpable tension erupted at Pattamundai basti between the minority community and Dalit villagers over taking the Bhalukuni and Ganesh tableaus during immersion procession.
According to Pattamundai SDPO Umashankar Moharana, on Monday morning, the Dalits were taking out the Bhalukuni and Ganesh idol immersion procession with beating of traditional dholkis and drums through the Muslim basti. But the minority community members of the basti opposed the procession though it was earlier decided in the peace committee this year to allow the procession.
The basti resident staged a road blockade at village road demanding that the immersion procession should go without drum beating.
On being informed, the SDPO with police team rushed to the spot and discussed with the heads of the Dalit basti and took the idols to immersion ghat without beating the drums and dholkis and immersed them.
However, protesting that the decision of the police was one-sided, the Dalits staged a road blockade in front of Pattamundai police station and at Dakabangala chowk and Aul road chowk by burning tyres and also gheraoed the Pattamundai police station.
The SDPO of Pattamundai and other senior officials were present at Pattamundai police station. Tight police arrangements were made in the locality along with at the Pattamundai bazaar area.