Cuttack, Sept. 22: At least three persons were injured in a clash between two Puja committees in Madhupatna police limits here today.

The animosity between the residents of Nuapada and Darghapatna has emerged as a major concern for the police ahead of the Durga Puja festivities next month.

Sources said the problems started when a group of Darghapatna residents attacked some Nuapada youths, who were trying to install bamboo structures for the puja. The Darghapatna residents alleged that the land, where the bamboo structures were being erected, was part of their locality. Later, there was a heated argument between the groups that subsequently escalated into a violent clash.

Both the groups attacked each other by throwing stones and glass bottles, and such attack had continued for around 20 minutes.

Sources said the boundary dispute between the localities had been an issue for the past 10 years, and this had resulted in violent clashes in the past as well. "They not only attacked a member of our youth association, but also broke our structure," said Nuapada resident Somoresh Bhuiyan.

Deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora and other senior officials subsequently rushed to the spot and held discussion with the residents of both the localities.

"There is a long-standing dispute between the two sides over boundary demarcation. Earlier, we have taken steps and made efforts to solve the problem amicably. Unfortunately, both the sides clashed today and three persons suffered minor injuries in the process," said Arora.

"Initially, there were only a handful of police personnel in the area whom the mob also targeted. Later, after more police personnel reached the spot, the cops had to resort to a mild baton-charge to disperse the crowd," said Kishore Pradhan, who stays nearby.

Pradhan said today's clash showed how ill-prepared the police were to handle a crisis situation as it took more than 30 minutes for the cops to reach the spot after the violence started. Local residents said adequate police force should be kept on standby at police stations in areas vulnerable to such clashes, so that the cops could intervene on time and prevented small incidents to flare up into major ones.

"A meeting has been convened tonight to resolve the issue," said Cuttack Mahanagar Shanti Committee secretary Bhikari Das.