A huge protest march was taken out in Ambikapur of Chhattisgarh on May 8, after several Hindu outfits along with Sant Samaj organised a protest ( Sanatan Swabhiman Shankhnaad) and marched towards the collectorate over the thrashing of a DDC (District Development Committee) member and son of a prominent Hindu Sant by an Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDOP), in Bagicha block of tribal-dominated Jashpur.
The incident, which sparked a huge outrage among the locals, occurred when SDOP, Jashpur, Sher Singh, along with two other constables, thrashed a DDC member Gend Bihari, a social worker and son of the great Hindu Sant Gahira Guru, over enquiring about a local dispute between three brothers of a family on April 27.
It’s been learnt that Gend Bihari had gone to the Durgapura village of Bagicha block to mediate between the brothers, who earlier had an altercation over installing a bore well in a combined premise, it’s been reported that when Bihari asked the matter to the SDOP who was also present on the spot, he started hurling abuses to Gend Bihari, Shamsher also threatened the latter for consequences and beaten him black and blue on the spot.
It’s been reported that Bihari was later forcibly taken into the police van and taken to the Bagicha police station, where he was again beaten up mercilessly; he was later admitted to the local hospital, from where he was sent to Ambikapur district hospital and then to the state capital subsequently.
As per some local inputs, one of the family members (wife of one of the brothers) between whose the dispute lies has already embraced Christianity and on numerous occasions has organised Changai Sabhas (a Christian program) in the region; it is being speculated that it was due to her pressure that Gend Bihari was thrashed mercilessly.
The protest march, which was organised under the banner of ‘Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti’, was also supported by Akhil Bhartiya Ghar wapsi Abhiyan, headed by Prabal Pratap Judev, who was also among the attendees and took part in the march, the protestors took out a march from BTI ground which concluded near the collectorate. Others among the attendees were Swami Parmanand ji Maharaj, Sarveshwar Das, Triveni Das and, Peethadheeshwar Gahiraguru, Sri Babruwahini ji. The protestors called for the immediate dismissal of the accused SDOP, Sher Singh, and warned the administration to beware of the reoccurrence of any such incident.
Meanwhile, the Baghel Government, on the other hand, has a line attached to the concerned SDOP and suspended two constables who were involved in the shocking incident, however not so impressed by the Government action on the concerned accused, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in the State are accusing the State government to providing shelter to those who act against the Sanatan Dharma.
Speaking with the Organiser, BJP leader Prabal Judev said: “Despite that the son of a great Hindu sant who devoted his life fighting the conversion mechanism has been beaten up mercilessly, the government has not even dismissed the SDOP, he was only line attached, it’s a clear message that they are putting their weight behind those who act against the Sanatan Dharma.”
It is to be noted that the tribal-dominated State has witnessed several communal flare-ups between the Christians and the local Hindu groups lately, following which the opposition BJP has accused the Congress government of turning a blind eye to illegal conversion in the State.
