Cuttack: Four people were arrested on Monday for allegedly manhandling Cuttack ACP Ananya Awasthi, a 2022-batch IPS officer, during a police drive to enforce the 9 pm deadline for bursting firecrackers in the city on Sunday night.The incident took place in Nayasadak locality following a confrontation between police personnel and local shopkeepers over the bursting of firecrackers beyond the permitted time, triggering tension in the area.Most of those involved were vendors who traditionally worship Goddess Laxmi on Diwali night before bursting firecrackers.The situation escalated after some police personnel purportedly kicked firecrackers kept on the road, according to a video that later went viral.The action angered the vendors, who confronted the police, leading to a scuffle. Awasthi, who was at the scene to oversee enforcement, was allegedly manhandled during the confrontation.Police subsequently examined CCTV footage and videos circulated on social media to identify those involved.“We have examined CCTV footage and viral videos to establish the sequence of events and identify those involved in the incident. Vinay Agarwal (32), Yash Choudhury (23), Krishna Soni (20) and Mohit Nangalia (22) have been arrested. Further investigation is underway,” Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo said, adding that any obstruction or attack on police personnel performing their duty would be dealt with firmly.Awasthi said police were only trying to enforce the restrictions on bursting firecrackers after 9 pm. “Nobody is above the law,” she said.Local shopkeepers, however, alleged that the police action provoked the confrontation.“There is a tradition among vendors here to worship Goddess Laxmi on Diwali night and burst crackers afterwards. The police could have handled the situation more sensitively. Kicking the fireworks lying on the road angered people and led to the confrontation,” said Sudesh Agrawal.Awasthi, an Odisha-cadre IPS officer and a law graduate from National Law Institute University, Bhopal, served in the Indian Railway Traffic Service before joining the IPS. Originally from Madhya Pradesh, she began her policing career as ASP (under training) in Sundargarh before joining as ACP in Cuttack.In May 2026, Awasthi made history by becoming the first woman police officer to be appointed Aide-de-Camp to then Odisha governor Hari Babu Kambhampati. She assumed charge at Lok Bhavan on May 31.After serving in the governor’s establishment, she returned to the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate as ACP in Aug 2026.