Balasore: A jatra venue turned into a battleground as spectators indulged in a tussle over non-availability of seats at Anko panchayat under Rupsa police limits in Balasore district, a source said Tuesday.
Several persons sustained critical injuries on their heads in the clash after which the jatra was cancelled.
According to the source, all tickets for the second show of opera party ‘Tulasi Gananatya’ were sold out. However, when a large number of spectators turned up at the jatra venue with their tickets Monday night, they found there were no seats. Afterwards, they took the matter to the jatra’s organisers.
Meanwhile, some spectators accused the organising committee of issuing two tickets for a single seat.
Despite that, the organising committee allegedly did not make any effort to arrange seats for the complainants. Enraged over the matter, the visitors had an altercation with the organisers, the source added.
Subsequently, the brawl turned ugly after the spectators and organisers entered into a fistfight. The angry mob ravaged the venue and hurled chairs at the jatra stage.
PNN