A major uproar broke out in Bilaspur on Friday night following a dispute between two groups. Hundreds of people gathered after rumors of alleged anti-Hindu remarks spread. Following this, stone-pelting and vandalism began. Several vehicles, houses, and shops were damaged.
The incident occurred in the City Kotwali police station area. To control the mob, the police resorted to lathi-charge and fired tear gas, but the situation remained tense. Tarbahar TI Ravi Tiwari suffered a head injury due to stone-pelting. Several people, including a constable, were injured.
To bring the situation under control, Collector Sanjay Agarwal and SSP Rajnesh Singh reached the spot wearing helmets. Additional forces were called in from Janjgir-Champa, Mungeli, and the CAF. People from Hindu organizations, including Beltara MLA Sushant Shukla, reached the police station. A crowd remained gathered at the police station and surrounding areas until 4 AM.
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After the dispute, both sides pelted stones at each other fiercely.
Tarbahar TI Ravi Tiwari suffered a head injury during the stone-pelting. He was taken for medical treatment.
The police first used a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd, then fired tear gas shells.
Know what the whole matter is?
The controversy started over an alleged anti-Hindu comment on social media. Following this, members of a Hindu organization reached Khaparganj in the City Kotwali area. A physical altercation broke out between the two sides there. Soon, the other side also became aggressive, and the dispute escalated.
According to eyewitnesses, information about the start of the dispute and the gathering of a crowd of youths was given to the City Kotwali TI, CSP Ganan Kumar, and Additional SP Pankaj Patel. Despite this, only a patrolling team was sent to the spot. In the presence of the police, stone-pelting started after a physical fight between the two sides.
Eyewitnesses allege that if senior police officers had reached the spot in time, the situation could have been controlled. Due to the delay by the police, the crowd kept growing, and the matter later turned violent.
Collector Sanjay Agarwal and SSP Rajnesh Singh took charge.
Scuffle with CSP, several injured including TI
After the tension escalated, crowds from both sides came face-to-face, leading to stone-pelting and vandalism. During this, police officers and personnel tried to stop them, but the uncontrollable mob turned violent.
The mob scuffled with CSP Gagan Kumar, who had arrived in civil dress, and started manhandling him. Meanwhile, Tarbahar TI Ravi Tiwari suffered a head injury due to stone-pelting, while several others, including a constable, were injured.
When tear gas shells did not fire, they were thrown by hand
During this, the police tried to handle the situation between the crowds of both sides. Near the City Kotwali Chowk, the police first tried to calm the matter through dialogue, but stone-pelting started from the other side.
After this, the police resorted to lathi-charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Due to the lack of firing equipment, Sarkanda TI Pradeep Arya threw the shells by hand. 5 to 6 shells were fired one after another, but even after this, the crowd did not disperse.
Crowd created ruckus by entering the police station
During this time, the tension escalated to such an extent that the crowd entered the City Kotwali police station. Inside the station, the aggressive crowd continued to create a ruckus while using abusive language. They demanded strict action against those involved in the stone-pelting. Meanwhile, Collector Sanjay Agarwal and SSP Rajnesh Singh remained inside, trying to reason with the people.
Extra force called from Janjgir-Champa and Mungeli
To control the continuously growing crowd and the rising tension, SSP Rajnesh Singh summoned police personnel, including station house officers (SHOs) and inspectors from across the district, along with the police line force to the spot.
Along with this, additional forces from Janjgir-Champa, Mungeli, and the CAF (Chhattisgarh Armed Force) were called in. The crowd remained gathered at the spot until around 2:30 AM, continuing to create a ruckus by raising slogans.
SSP took to the streets with a baton
Considering the seriousness of the incident, SSP Rajnesh Singh came out onto the road from the police station premises to disperse the crowd. The electricity in the surrounding area was turned off, and a lathi-charge was conducted.
Following this, Collector Sanjay Agarwal and SSP Rajnesh Singh, wearing helmets, set out on a foot march. In their presence, the crowd was dispersed. The police team remained engaged in patrolling and clearing the crowd until around 3 AM.
City Kotwali Chowk turned into a cantonment, police force deployed
Following this incident, a large number of police forces have been deployed in the Masanganj and Khaparganj areas in view of the tension. Police forces have been deployed around the City Kotwali Chowk with barricading. The police continuously patrolled the area until 5 AM and appealed to the people to maintain peace.
Collector-SSP said – Strict action will be taken against the guilty
Collector Sanjay Agrawal and SSP Rajnesh Singh stated that a tense situation arose between two groups following a personal dispute. Stone-pelting occurred from both sides, resulting in injuries to some people.
More than 400 police personnel are present. Forces have also been called in from neighboring districts. The situation is under control. Strict action will be taken against whoever is guilty.
