According to media reports, the incident took place at around 9 pm after the evening aarti at the Nava Durga Puja pandal. Children were enjoying bhajans and at the same time prasad was being distributed. Muslims in the area 'objected' to the loud sound of the bhajans.
The objection then turned into an argument, which was followed by abuse and beating from the Muslim community. The accused attacked the devotees with sticks, bricks and stones. The complaint further states that the attackers vandalised the idol of Goddess Durga, overturned the altar decorated for the Navagraha and destroyed an urn, a sound system and a nearby e-rickshaw. Some reports also state that a young woman present at the pandal was molested and her clothes were torn by the Muslims. Women from nearby Muslim houses also pelted bricks and stones from the roofs at the devotees present at the pandal.
A team led by Inspector Pankaj Kumar Rai and Circle Officer Shiv Narayan Vaish reached the village with police personnel. They intervened to bring the situation under control and sent the injured to a community health centre in Kalkankar for treatment. Based on the complaint filed by Ankit Mishra, the police registered a case against Asgar Ali, Afzal Ali, Afsar Ali, Haider Ali, Sarvar Ali and Faizan Ali and unidentified Muslim women. The police arrested five of the accused - Asgar Ali, Afzal Ali, Afsar Ali, Haider Ali and Sarvar Ali. Faizan Ali fled the scene. Several Hindus, including Santosh Kumar Mishra, Manoj Kumar Mishra, Sarita Mishra, Satyam Saroj, Lucky Sharma, Munna Saroj, Manki Saroj, Mamata Saroj and Basanti Patel, were injured in the clash. The five injured were sent to a medical college in critical condition. Some of the accused were also injured.
A police officer said, "Five people have been arrested in connection with the incident." Efforts are on to trace the absconding accused and further legal action is being taken.
In view of the tension created by the incident, a sub-inspector and four constables have been deployed in the village. Police teams are also conducting mobile patrols to maintain law and order.