100 villagers still missing from martyr ASI’s village:Homes in Gadra, Rewa remain locked; villagers in fear, unsure who survived or perished in the incident

Eight months after the Gadra incident in Rewa, the village still lives under a shadow of fear. Nearly 100 residents fled their homes on the night of the violence, leaving many families incomplete. Some elderly were left alone, children without parents, and several homes remain locked with overgrown courtyards. Fear and abandonment in Gadra village Residents report that despite appeals from authorities to return safely, the fear of violence has kept many away. Blo officers (Bureau Level Officers) conducting Special Intensive Review (SIR) for voter list verification stated that the list cannot be accurate until the missing villagers return. Many families do not even know whether their loved ones are alive. What happened during the Gadra incident? On March 15, 2025, a violent clash occurred in Gadra village, Mauganj district. Tribal villagers killed Sani Dwivedi, and when the police arrived to rescue him, a mob attacked them. ASI Ramcharan Gautam was martyred, and several police officers were injured. Following the violence, about 100 villagers abandoned their homes, leaving a silence over the village. Police from Rewa and neighboring districts rescued 10 hostages, including SDOP Ankita Sulya, Tehsildar Kumare Lal Panika, and TI Sandeep Bharti, after nearly 100 rounds of firing. Subsequent arrests included 39 individuals, with six still absconding. On April 4, three bodies—identified as Auseri Saket and his children Meenakshi (11) and Aman (8)—were found in a house, raising allegations of police involvement. Locked homes and abandoned livestock Eight months later, many houses remain locked and falling apart. Livestock left unattended either perished or were released into the forest. Some villagers are taking care of animals left behind. Crops grown on abandoned rooftops wither unused, highlighting the absence of families. Stories of loss ​​​​​​​Brijesh Kol, a local resident, emphasizes that hundreds cannot be blamed for the incident, noting that the village’s atmosphere has been permanently altered by the conflict between a few individuals. Police presence continues Even eight months later, police remain stationed in Gadra to maintain law and order. Officers report regularly to senior officials and conduct patrols to prevent suspicious activity. SP Dilip Soni confirmed that 39 accused have been arrested, and efforts to apprehend remaining suspects are ongoing. Community awareness programs, including anti-drug camps, have also been organized. Voter list verification a challenge Fear and displacement have made the voter list verification process difficult. Under the Special Intensive Review (SIR) campaign, BLOs visit each household to verify the identity and eligibility of voters. Empty homes and absent residents make it challenging to ensure all eligible citizens are included, highlighting the long-term impact of the Gadra incident on local democracy.