Bhubaneswar, Feb 27: Tensions ran high today at Unit-1 Haat as Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials conducted an eviction drive to remove illegal encroachments from government land. The operation, however, turned chaotic when a violent altercation broke out between two groups of hawkers.

The BMC team arrived at the site to evict hawkers occupying government land and relocate them to designated spaces. However, the situation escalated when one group of hawkers demanded the eviction of their counterparts from the opposite side of the market. The conflict intensified as they accused members of the other group of being responsible for a fire that destroyed 40-50 of their shops on January 20, 2026.

In protest, the agitated hawkers blocked the main road between AG Square and Rajmahal Chhak, demanding the arrest of the person believed to have set the fire. They further claimed that the accused was acting as an agent for the BMC, allegedly working to gain favours and manipulate the situation.

A police team from the Capital Police Station was quickly deployed to the scene and managed to disperse the protesters and restore order. The situation remains tense as the eviction drive continues, with both groups still seeking justice for the fire incident.