A festive evening at Dashamighat turned chaotic on Sunday when a group from Krishnanagar’s Pragati Club area arrived for the immersion of Lord Ganesha’s idol. What began as a peaceful religious ritual soon spiraled into a violent altercation between two groups of youths, reportedly triggered by a dispute over firecracker burning.
Eyewitnesses said the visiting group had followed all immersion protocols and intended to carry out the ceremony respectfully. However, tensions escalated when another group—allegedly under the influence of alcohol—objected to the bursting of firecrackers. A heated verbal exchange quickly gave way to physical clashes, disrupting the immersion proceedings.
Members of the Tripura Youth Brigade Puja Committee expressed disappointment at the turn of events. “We came peacefully for immersion and followed all the rules. But a group of unruly youths, clearly intoxicated, suddenly started the fight. Shockingly, this happened right in front of the police, who stood still like statues,” said one committee member.
The Puja Committee further criticized the law enforcement authorities, alleging that police officers at the spot were concerned only with managing traffic while overlooking the brewing unrest at the immersion point. “They were just controlling the roads, not the crowd. It’s as if they had no idea what was happening at Dashamighat,” another member remarked.
Though no major injuries were reported, the clash left devotees shaken and dampened the festive spirit of the immersion ceremony. The incident has sparked concerns about the preparedness of law enforcement during large public gatherings and the lack of coordination in handling such sensitive events.
The episode at Dashamighat underscores the urgent need for stricter crowd management, greater vigilance, and better oversight to ensure that religious celebrations remain peaceful and safe for all.
