Our Bureau/

A new tendency gradually dominating over the age-old traditions of ancient city of Bhagalpur, age old tradition of immersion of idols has been replaced with all nuisance values !

People from all the walks of lives have expressed serious concerned over the way the immersion procession of Goddess Kali was observed this time here. On the otherhand, Bijay Sharma , the injured photo journalist of Sahara Samoy news channel, today got operated by doctors at Glocal, a private nursing home. Doctors replaced a steel rod in his hand which was badly damaged by a sharp edged weapon. Doctors still keep him under strict observations for the next 72 hours. “He is out of danger but time would be required for his full recovery,” said the attending doctors at the hospital.

Bijay was not  a sole example, over half dozen people sustained serious injuries during group clashes during the immersion procession. The SHO, Tilkamanjhi PS, Sanjay Satharthi and one ASI of Kotwali PS, Md. Dilshad also sustained injuries when groups of two puja organizers started brick batting against each other on the mid night of October 21.

Injured photo journalist Bijay Sharma at hospital.

But what made every body surprised was the collapse of the administration as major parts of the city was under the grips of hooligans. “Entire city was under the influence of terror, the city was completely dark as power supply was cut due to immersion procession of idols,” residents narrated.

However many blamed police for loosing its control over the Kali puja organizers. “When there was the norms of issuing license for puja organizers with specific terms and conditions than how majority of the crowd including the puja organizers were carrying sharp aged weapons or were moving in intoxicated stage?” they pointed out.

Immersion procession of Goddess Kali which otherwise an old time practice at Bhagalpur, however turned nightmare for the residents here this time. Residents here alleged the failure of district administration for checking the chaotic situation which prevailed from the mid night of October 21 to 22.

Senior cops at Bhagalpur has expressed serious concerned over the rampant vandalism on the streets over 24 hours here by puja organizers during the immersion procession of Goddes Kail here. Senior superintendent of police, Manoj Kumar admitted the lapses by parts of puja organizers as they violated the basic norms of the license earlier issued by the police to them.

“We would certainly take action against the hooliganisms created during the immersion procession. We earlier provided licenses to each of the puja organizers for participating in the immersion procession with specific terms and conditions. But most of the puja organizers had violated the terms and conditions, which were serious offence,” Kumar pointed out.

Not a single office-bearers of the Kali Visharjan Samity, a social body which regulate the immersion procession, was available for their comment on the issue.