Palpable tension erupted at Talachua market since Thursday midnight following two youths allegedly damaged an earthen idol of lord Bishwakarma of the Talachua Drivers’ Association who were to hold the Vishwakarma Puja on Friday as per the Bengali almanac.
According to Talachua Marine police station IIC Keran Hembram, one Babaji Charan Debanath, son of Madan Debanath and Bulti Debanath of Talachua, on Thursday night had an altercation with the members of drivers’ association of Talachua over a past dispute. As a result, Babaji and Bulti came to the puja mandap of the Talachua market and damaged the idol. When a couple of persons allegedly shouted, the duo managed to flee the spot by leaving their car.
The members of the driver’s association lodged an FIR against the duo. On Friday morning, demanding the arrest of the duo accused, the members of Talachua-based drivers’ association staged a road blockade by burning tyres. Additional SP Ramesh Chandra Mohanty, SDPO of Pattamundai Kedarnath Sahu, Talachua Marine police station IIC Kedarnath Sahu later reached at the spot and managed to pacify the situation.
The road blockade was later withdrawn on Friday morning following the IIC assured the agitators to arrest the accused. But till the report was filed, the police had not nabbed the accused.