A single board sparks caste tension:Assault, FIRs and protests at police station; Jatavs boycotted in upper-caste meeting

A small board reading “The Great Jatav” and a few pamphlets distributed over UGC turned an entire village into two opposing camps. For 12 days, tension gripped Konhar village in the Mehgaon area of Bhind district. Bitterness between the upper-caste community and the Jatav community escalated to the point that long-standing social ties broke down. People who once met daily began standing against each other. The situation worsened so much that a panchayat even took an oath to socially boycott members of the Jatav community. This was the second such incident in Bhind district within four months. For the police and administration, the biggest challenge was to rebuild trust between the two communities. After several rounds of meetings, officials finally managed to bring the situation under control. How did a small board lead to such deep division? To find out, a team visited Konhar village and spoke to residents from the village square to the fields. Learn how the situation deteriorated… and calmed down after protests The dispute began on 14 February in Konhar village. Conversations with villagers revealed that the root of the tension was a board fixed to a government electricity pole. The board carried the words “The Great Jatav”. It is alleged that it was put up by individuals linked to Bhim Army. While the board caused unease, no one initially came forward to openly object. Tension rose on the afternoon of 17 February when some people, accompanied by activists linked to Bhim Army, entered the upper-caste locality of the village. Along with a local resident, Vipin Jatav, they began distributing pamphlets in support of UGC. Upper-caste youths objected, leading to an argument that soon turned into a scuffle. Elders intervened and temporarily calmed the situation. Both parties surrounded the police station Though matters appeared settled, the dispute intensified. After district-level members of Bhim Army learned about the clash, they staged a protest at Mehgaon police station demanding an FIR. The protest was led by former Bhim Army functionary Saurabh Jatav. Subsequently, police registered a case against Sumit Bhadauria, Amit Dantre and Kanha Bhadauria. When villagers learned of the FIR, anger spread. A call was made for unity among all communities. On 18 February, members of organisations such as Parshuram Sena, Karni Sena and Savarna Army gathered and laid siege to Mehgaon police station. The protest continued for nearly five hours. Police later registered another FIR under assault charges against four individuals based on a complaint by Sumit Bhadauria. Boycott of Jatav community in Panchayat On the morning of 19 February, a large panchayat was convened in the village. It concluded that the activities of some youths from the Jatav community had disturbed communal harmony. Villagers said that all communities had lived together peacefully for years. While no one had objected to the board on the electricity pole, distributing pamphlets in the upper-caste locality and filing an FIR under the SC/ST Act after objections were seen as against village traditions. Now read the conversation with villagers… Second boycott in Bhind, administration takes charge News of the boycott reached police and administrative officials, and even the state capital Bhopal during the Assembly session. A report was sought at the government level. Officials held multiple meetings with different groups in the village to restore dialogue and trust. After nearly 12 days of efforts, tensions eased. Villagers have since resumed interaction. Many said it was the first time they had witnessed a single board divide an entire village, and credited police intervention for restoring normalcy. Earlier, on 23 October, a similar all-community panchayat was held in Surpura village of Bhind district, where the upper-caste community had also taken an oath to boycott the Jatav community over an alleged false FIR. Social boycott decision taken twice in Bhind district A meeting of all communities was called in Konhar village on February 19. In the meeting, the upper caste community had decided to boycott the Jatav community. Before this, a meeting of all communities was also held in Surpura village of Bhind district on October 23. Then the upper caste community had taken an oath to boycott the Jatav community, calling a case false and protesting against the false FIR.