A building linked to a stone-pelting incident during a Hanuman Jayanti bike rally has been demolished in the Motijharan area of Sambalpur city. The demolition drive commenced on Thursday morning and continued into the evening, with plans to extend for another two days, according to administrative sources.
On Thursday morning, a two-storey house, from which stones were allegedly thrown during the Hanuman Hanuman Janmotsav bike rally in April 2023, was razed by bulldozers. Additionally, three houses constructed on government land and 18 shops were also demolished.
It is worth noting that Sambalpur city hosts an annual bike rally to celebrate Hanuman Janmotsav. On April 12,2023, during this rally, a sudden and intense stone-pelting incident occurred as participants passed through Motijharan. Stones and bricks were reportedly hurled at them from the building that has now been demolished. This attack resulted in several injuries, including that of Anita Pradhan, the then-Dhanupali police station officer.
Following the violence, on April 14, Chitamani Mirdha, a 30-year-old tribal youth from Sanasinghari village on the outskirts of Sambalpur town, was killed while returning home from the Hanuman Jayanti procession.
Mirdha and his friends were attacked by a mob armed with swords and hockey sticks, which led to Mirdha’s death. The incidents triggered arson and the subsequent imposition of a curfew in the town. As the clashes spilled into the streets, many vehicles were damaged and some shops were set ablaze. Police arrested over 100 people in connection with the violence and the killing of the tribal youth on Hanuman Janmotsav.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took this issue very seriously. National president JP Nadda had formed a four-member inquiry committee to investigate the violence during the Hanuman Janmotsav procession. The committee comprised Rajya Sabha MPs Brij Lal, Samir Oraon, Aditya Sahu, and Lok Sabha MP Jyotirmay Singh Mahato.
In theaftermath of the stone-pelting incident, local residents called for action. The BJP demanded exemplary measures. However, the Naveen Patnaik government faced accusations of inaction and prioritising vote-bank appeasement over decisive measures. The current demolition took place under the new government.
To facilitate the operation, vehicular movement near Bhutapada Square was restricted on Thursday morning. Public access beyond Government Women’s College was prohibited, and those coming from Dhanakauda were only allowed up to the Vigilance Office. In anticipation of potential law-and-order issues, a heavy police presence was deployed along the Bhutapada-Dhanakauda road, which passes through Motijharan. Police personnel were stationed throughout the area to maintain peace. Senior officials, including RDC Sachin Ramchandra Yadav and Police IG Himanshu Lal, inspected the site. To ensure safety, Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code was imposed in the area, although no disturbances were reported. Police remained stationed nearby even at night.
Sambalpur Municipal Corporation Commissioner Vedbhushan stated that this stretch connects to the national highway and could serve as a viable alternative for commuters. Consequently, it was deemed necessary to carry out this eviction drive to clear government land and widen the road for better traffic flow.
“We served notice and made public announcements before proceeding with the eviction. The stretch had been encroached upon primarily by street vendors, and several individuals had constructed concrete houses, which were demolished today,” the commissioner remarked.
The police confirmed that adequate security measures were implemented at the eviction site to maintain law and order. “There were concerns about potential disturbances, which is why sufficient police personnel were deployed at the site, and Section 163 of BNS was also enforced,” said a senior police official.
He confirmed that the eviction drive was carried out successfully without any incidents. “Nearly one kilometre of the area was cleared of encroachments. The operation will continue until all squatters are removed,” the police added.
