Tension erupted in the Sunhat area of Balasore town following a clash between suspected Right-wing activists and those celebrating Eid on Monday.

Two police personnel and five people sustained injuries during stone pelting between the two groups, prompting the authorities to impose prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code).

Around 15 to 20 vehicles were ransacked in the clash.

“No one is allowed to enter the area. Police even prevented journalists from going to the area. Huge police forces have been mobilised to the area to stop further escalation of violence,” said Balasore-based journalist Sibdas Kundu.

Minority community members residing between Pir Bazaar and Patrabada area under Sunhat were celebrating Bakri Eid on Monday, for which mutton was available in the local market between Pir Bazaar and Patrapada under Sunhat.

Sources said a section of Right-wing activists suspected that someone was killing a cow inside a house and trying to sell it in the market.

When they noticed something resembling blood in the nearby nulla, the Right-wing activists tried to barge into the house. The other group protested and a scuffle ensued. Both groups started pelting stones at each other.

Superintendent of police, Balasore, Sagarika Nath rushed to the spot and the situation was brought under control. “All the senior police officials are on the spot. No FIR has been lodged so far. The situation is under control,” Sagarika Nath told The Telegraph.

Asserting that law and order will not be disturbed at any cost, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi directed the Balasore district collector to ensure peace there. Appealing to people to maintain normalcy, Majhi said, “Odisha is a peaceful state. At any cost, the administration will not allow it to be vitiated.”

The clash between Hindus and the minorities comes barely four days after the first BJP government in the state was sworn in. Earlier on Saturday, two priests from a church in Sundergarh district were brutally attacked while they were attempting to thwart a robbery by criminals.