Bhubaneswar, Sept. 12: Seven persons were injured, five of them critically, when two groups fought with each other last night at Gothapatna under Chandaka police station on the city outskirts.

The clash allegedly erupted following a dispute over plucking of flowers for the Khudurukuni festival.

The injured were admitted to different hospitals in the city. Police have arrested six persons from both the groups for indulging in violence. Sticks and daggers used in the fight have also been seized.

The police said the clash took place around midnight. Those, who sustained severe injuries, were identified as Nilamani Palai, Raju Palai, Chandrakant Palai, Bikash Martha and Prakash Martha. The condition of Nilamani is said to be most critical among them all.

Tension had been brewing in the area since last morning when some girls from Pradhan Sahi went to collect flowers at Palai Sahi, where local residents resisted them from plucking flowers. Residents of Pradhan Sahi alleged that Palai Sahi residents also passed lewd comments at the girls. “Our girls had gone to pluck flowers. They were not only denied flowers, but also abused verbally. When we asked Palai Sahi residents about it, they quarrelled with us,” said Prakash Martha, a Pradhan Sahi resident, who was injured in the clash.

Later at night, when both the sides were preparing for the emersion procession of their idols, the trouble erupted again and took a violent turn this time. Both the groups accused each other of starting the violence.

Seven people had sustained injuries and had to be rushed to Capital Hospital by the time the police were informed.

Later, the more severely injured persons were shifted to private hospitals.

Police forces had to be deployed as tension prevailed in the area. Sources, however, informed that there were no other incidents of violence today. A police officer said the forces would be kept there for another day to keep a watch on the situation.