Bhubaneswar, March 25 A total of 122 incidents of unrest involving Hindus, Muslims, and Christians were reported in various parts of Odisha during 2025, according to a White Paper presented in the assembly on Wednesday.
The home department stated that 106 incidents of Hindu-Muslim and 16 incidents of Hindu-Christian unrest were reported during the period, against which 165 criminal cases were registered.
Furthermore, 1,095 riot cases were registered at various police stations of Odisha in 2025, according to the document.
The police filed chargesheets in 498 riot cases, and it is possible that chargesheets will also be filed in another 548 such cases, which are currently under investigation.
"The communal tension that erupted in Cuttack city during the last Dussehra was successfully addressed through coordinated intelligence inputs and police deployment," it stated.
During last year's Rath Yatra in Puri, due to large crowds, "a stampede-like situation was created near the Gundicha temple, but the situation was brought under control due to the prompt action of the state government and the police," according to the White Paper.
In order to maintain communal harmony in Odisha, the government has constituted a "state-level communal coordination committee."
This committee reviews the situation periodically and takes appropriate steps, the home department stated in the report.
In addition, "a manual with detailed guidelines on controlling communal violence and promoting harmony has been issued to all authorities who are involved in maintaining law and order," it said.
The state government also claimed that significant improvement was observed in the overall Left Wing Extremism (LWE) situation during 2025.
"Minor Maoist activities" were observed in nine police districts, including Kandhamal, Boudh, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Nuapada, Bolangir, Malkangiri, and Koraput, it said.