Tension simmers in Balodabazar town of Chhattisgarh after an agitated mob on June 10 set collector’s office and dozens of vehicles stationed at the premises on fire by breaching the security installments over vandalism of the ‘Jaitkham’, a pious symbol of the Satnami community in Mahkoni village of Giroudpuri.
The agitators who had earlier assembled in the Dusshera ground to mark their protest against the aforementioned vandalism which took place on the intervening night of May 15-16 in Amar Gufa (cave), a sacred place for Satnamis, associated with Guru Amar Das, elder son of Guru Ghasidas ji (A revered Guru and founder of Satnami sect) barged into the premises after the dramatic escalation of the protest on Monday evening.
The protestors who were demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the vandalism case first crossed the security installments near the Garden Chowk and then collided with the police personnel near Chakrapani school.
Following the collision, the protestors also vandalized a fire brigade’s vehicle and CCTV cameras installed at separate places. The agitated mob then succeeded in breaching the barricades and marched uncontrollably towards the joint collectorate building where they set ablaze the collector’s office alongside vandalizing and torching around 30 four-wheelers parked in the premises.
बलौदाबाजार सतनामी समाज का प्रदर्शन #Chhattisgarh #BalodaBazar #SatnamiCommunity #LatestNews #BalodaBazar #Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/ACYqdWreFe
— Indian Observer (@ag_Journalist) June 10, 2024
Dozens of two-wheelers stationed at the premises were also set on fire by the mob who subsequently torched other government offices in the premises. The protestors also resorted to stone pelting and assaulted security personnel during the violence unleashed in the town leaving around 25 policemen and other government officials injured.
On eruption of violence in the town, Balodabazar SSP, Sadanand Kumar said that “they (protestors) had all given assurance in writing too that they would hold a peaceful program but it got uncontrollable. Barricades had been put up at four spots but the men came through another route and broke the barricades.”
“They jostled policemen and pelted stones, they further vandalized the premises, several of our policemen and officers are injured. The situation is under control now, we have photos and videos action will be taken on that basis,” he added.
The dramatic turn of events that shook the administration by surprise led to a massive manhunt launch by the police to arrest the troublemakers behind the hooliganism. As of now over hundred of rioters have been detained by the police with the help of footage acquired while a team of forensic department is also collecting samples from the site.
Taking it further the administration on Tuesday has also imposed prohibitory order under section 144 in the town in view of preventing any untoward incident till June 16.
Earlier Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Monday also instructed the Inspector General (IG) and Commissioner to immediately reach the affected area. The CM also summoned the DGP and took stock of the situation, he further has sought a report on the incident.
बलौदा बाजार जिले में उत्पन्न हुई अप्रिय स्थिति पर आईजी व कमिश्नर को तत्काल घटनास्थल पर पहुंचने के निर्देश दिए हैं। मुख्य सचिव और डीजीपी को तलब कर घटना की प्रारंभिक जानकारी ली एवं घटना की रिपोर्ट भी मंगाई है।
ज्ञातव्य हो गिरौदपुरी के अमर गुफा मामले में पूर्व में ही न्यायिक जांच…
— Vishnu Deo Sai (@vishnudsai) June 10, 2024
Surprisingly the violent demonstration over the vandalizing of Jaitkham occurred on the heels of state government announcement to conduct a judicial enquiry into the whole incident that unfolded on May 15.
Deputy CM, other leaders visited the spot
Deputy Chief Minister, Vijay Sharma accompanied with cabinet minister Dayal Das Baghel, local MLA, Tankram Varma and senior officials of the police also visited the town on late Monday night and took stock of the situation. Later while interacting with the press, Sharma emphasized that anti-social elements are involved in the attack and incidents that disturb the social harmony will not be tolerated.
“I had met the prominent members of the Satnami community on June 6, they had demanded a judicial enquiry into the vandalism episode of ‘Jaitkham’, to which the Chief Minister had made it clear that an enquiry would be conducted. Following the assurance, the community members had said that no agitation would be carried out after that thus society is acquitted in this, anti-social elements are behind this who have created this mess, action will be taken for sure, law will take its course,” said Sharma.
#WATCH | On the unpleasant situation arising in Baloda Bazar district, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma says, "I had met the prominent members of the Satnami community on June 6… They had demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident of damaging the Jaitkham. On… pic.twitter.com/qvZT3IZwx0
— ANI (@ANI) June 10, 2024
Meanwhile indicating a possible ploy behind the violence, Tank Ram Verma said that public and private property have been damaged extensively in the incident. Home Minister had already order a judicial enquiry into the matter before the protest and the demonstrators had said that they will only submit a memorandum peacefully, though after inspecting the spot, stones, petrol bottles have been found, it seems like a planned plot of some anti-social elements which will be disclosed during the course of investigation.
Sequence of events that followed after the Jaitkham vandalism episode
May 15-16: – A few unknown miscreants damaged the revered Jaitkham installed near Mankhoni village around 5 km away from Giroudhpuri Dham on the intervening night of May 15-16. The incident angered the Satnami community who protested against the impudence of the miscreants.
May 17: – A First Information Report (FIR) was filed into the matter.
May 19: – Police arrested three accused in the case who during the initial interrogation allegedly confessed that they attempted to damage the Jaitkhma in a drunken state as they were not paid their wages by a local contractor.
May 20: – Local community members expresses their disagreement on the arrest of the accused and demanded that real perpetrators behind the crime should be arrested.
May 21: – Members of the Satnami community submitted memorandum seeking arrest of the real culprits behind the vandalism episode.
June 6: – Prominent members of the community interacted with the Dy CM and were given assurance for a judicial enquiry to which they agreed.
June 8: – Administration held meetings with the villagers, community members and assured them for swift action in the case
June 9: – Dy CM announced a judicial enquiry into the case
June 10: – Protestors assembled in Dussehara ground to mark their protest against the Jaitkham vandalism, however the demonstration turns violent in the late afternoon leading to arson and vandalism at collector’s office premises.
June 11: – Section 144 imposed in the town while the police launched a crackdown to nab rioters on the basis of the footage secured.
Notably in addition to the vandalism incident at Jaitkham in Amar Gufa, a separate incident pertaining to alleged vandalism in a Satnam Gurudwara has also surfaced into the area lately.
An FIR pertaining to the matter was also registered by the police on the basis of a complaint filed by the state president of Bhim Krantiveer Chhattisgarh Sangathan over alleged attempt of removing a flag in a Satnma Gurudwara in Bitkuli village.
In the complaint filed before the police on May 19, the complainant had alleged two individuals and others for hurting religious sentiments by removing a religious flag near a Satnam Gurdwara. Following the FIR, the district police nabbed all the accused in the case who were later sent in judicial custody.
Notably, the state of Chhattisgarh is home to millions of Satnami community (mostly hailing from the scheduled caste community) who believe and follows the teachings of their revered Guru Baba Ghasidas, a medieval era social reformer widely known for his preaching of unity and brotherhood famously summarized in his quote “Mankhe Mankhe Ek Saman”.
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