The silence of Cuttack , one of the major cities of Odisha whose very soul is woven with the thread of ‘bhaichara’ (brotherhood) spanning a thousand years, is deafening. Usually a vibrant and bustling urban centre, the city now wears a deserted, tense look, sealed under a strict 36-hour curfew and a 24-hour social media ban. Besides, the heavy footsteps of paramilitary forces conducting flag marches in the narrow lanes and neighbourhoods have replaced the usual din of commerce, marking a difficult chapter in the history of the millennium city. The crucial question here is: why has this hub of communal harmony descended into a lockdown?

Cuttack Durga Puja Clash: How a festival night turned tensed The city of Cuttack is a living testament to harmony and coexistence for thousands of y

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