Violence over parked Bolero turns Dalit vs upper-caste:TI assaulted; Dalit leader alleges Bajrang Dal conspiracy, says she was nearly killed

Violence broke out in Amiliya area of Sidhi district, Madhya Pradesh, during an Ambedkar Jayanti rally after a dispute over removing a vehicle. The situation later escalated into a Dalit vs upper-caste clash. Around 200 people stormed the police station, vandalised property and assaulted the station in-charge. Stone-pelting was reported, leaving more than 12 people injured. On Wednesday, the village market opened as usual, but heavy security deployment remained in place. More than 200 police personnel from four police stations have been stationed across the area. Police presence has been intensified at every junction, with Vajra vehicles, tear gas units and fire brigade teams also deployed. Authorities are not allowing gatherings of more than four people, although the situation is currently under control. The village has a population of around 10,000, with a majority from Thakur, Bania and Brahmin communities, around 3,000 Dalits and the rest OBCs. Bajrang Dal people would have killed me, TI saved me A Dalit leader, Rani Verma, alleged that Bajrang Dal members were behind the violence. She claimed she was threatened and told she would be “finished” for being an Ambedkar supporter, but said the station in-charge intervened and saved her. A ground report was conducted at Bhagwatipur village, about 40 km from the district headquarters, where eyewitnesses, police officials and locals were spoken to in order to understand how the violence unfolded and the extent of injuries. Now know, how the dispute started On April 14, around 11:30 am, more than 400 members of Bhim Army were taking out a rally on the occasion of Dr B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti. Two men, Manish Tiwari and Mani Shukla, were sitting in a Bolero parked by the roadside. Some rally participants asked them to move the vehicle, leading to an argument. The situation escalated, and the two men were dragged out, beaten with sticks, punched and kicked. The vehicle’s windows were smashed. One of them collapsed unconscious outside a house but continued to be assaulted. The other tried to escape into a house, but the mob followed and assaulted him and the family members. Both were later referred to Rewa Medical Hospital in critical condition. Eyewitnesses said- Stones were thrown at our car too Eyewitness Ramakant Shukla said he was sitting on a cot outside his house when stones suddenly started being pelted. Stones also hit his car. When he questioned what was happening, a stone hit his hand. People said – They kept pelting stones, didn’t listen to anyone Eyewitness Dinesh Kumar Shukla said more than 20 youths were beating the two men. They threw them on the road and hit them with stones. They were not listening to anyone. He said he was sitting at his shop and did not know the reason. One person became unconscious while the other ran away to save himself. Then it became a Dalit V/s Savarna dispute People in the rally started targeting upper-caste residents in the village and abused them. Those who objected were also beaten. Around 12 noon, nearby people reached the spot and chased away the attackers. Angry locals blocked the road by placing the damaged Bolero and an iron kiosk. As the rally moved ahead, both sides came face to face and heavy stone-pelting took place. From here, the dispute turned into a Dalit vs upper-caste clash. On getting information, police reached the spot, moved the rally ahead and brought some people from the upper-caste side to the police station to control the situation. More than 200 people attacked the police station At around 12:35 pm, after the rally ended, Bhim Army members reached the police station and created chaos. When police tried to stop them, more than 200 people pelted stones, entered the station and vandalised it. They also assaulted police personnel, including station in-charge Rakesh Bais. The attackers broke three CCTV cameras. They vandalised the TI’s cabin. More than 15 bikes and two Bolero vehicles parked in and around the station were also damaged. When the TI protested outside, he was chased and beaten. Stones were also thrown at him. More than 12 people injured in violence According to police, more than 12 people were injured in the violence. These include Archana Saket, Pan Kali Saket, RD Singh Bauddh, RK Singh Bauddh, RI Bauddh, Faujdar Saket, Jivendra Saket, Sukhsagar Saket, Mohit Saket, Arvind Saket, Vijay Saket and others. However, none of them are seriously injured. Dalit leader said- People came with sticks and clubs and chased me away Dalit leader Rani Verma said that when she reached after getting information, people misbehaved with her. She said they told others to finish her so her politics would end and that she acts like a follower of Baba Saheb. She said she left from there. TI Rakesh Bais later called her and asked for a compromise. She further said that after some time, some people came with sticks and chased her. She said the TI saved her and took her three children inside the police station. She said they somehow managed to carry out the rally. Some people stayed back and went to the police station demanding to see CCTV footage. She said that during this time, some people came from inside with knives and started attacking. A person was beaten inside the police station. The injured are being helped, 12 people are wounded Collector Vikas Mishra said a team was sent on receiving the information and monitoring is being done. He said police are trying to ensure that no one is harmed. Help is being provided to the injured. A total of 12 people were injured, of whom six have minor injuries and six have more serious injuries. Additional SP Arvind Shrivastava said the attack was sudden. He said that after the violence during the rally, one side was brought to the police station. Bhim Army workers tried to free them, during which government property was damaged. He said the matter is being investigated and an FIR will be registered and action will be taken against those responsible.