54 communal riot cases, 7 mob lynchings reported in Odisha since June 2024: CM Majhi

Police arrested 298 people in connection with the communal riot cases and 61 people for their alleged involvement in mob lynching incidents during the 20-month period

Published on: Mar 9, 2026, 19:36:57 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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At least 54 instances of communal riots and seven cases of mob lynching were reported in Odisha since June 2024, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi told the state assembly on Monday.

Majhi told the House that the government has taken steps to prevent communal violence and mob lynching. (Mohan Charan Majhi)

Replying to a written question from Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Goutam Buddha Das, Majhi said, from June 12, 2024, at least 54 communal riot incidents were reported from Balasore, Khurda, Koraput, Malkangiri and Bhadrak districts while seven mob lynching cases were recorded in Rayagada, Dhenkanal, Deogarh and Balasore districts.

Police arrested 298 people in connection with the communal riot cases and 61 people for their alleged involvement in mob lynching incidents during the 20-month period, Majhi said.

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Among the districts, Balasore reported the highest number of communal incidents, with 24 riot cases in which 95 persons were arrested, the CM said. Khurda district registered 16 riot cases, leading to the arrest of 120 people.

In Koraput, 8 communal incidents were recorded, in which 33 persons were arrested. Malkangiri reported four cases, with 26 arrests, while two riot incidents were reported in Bhadrak, leading to the arrest of 24 persons, Majhi said.

Majhi told the House that the government has taken steps to prevent communal violence and mob lynching, including the formation of peace committees at police station levels.

“Local administrations are making efforts to maintain communal harmony, and action is being taken against those attempting to disturb peace through intelligence gathering and preventive measures,” he said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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