Durg. Congress workers in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district on Tuesday protested against the incident of Bajrang Dal workers allegedly stopping the convoy of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, after which the police resorted to lathicharge to disperse them. Police said that the party workers had protested without taking permission from the administration.
Baghel had claimed on August 24 that when he was going to Durg to participate in the protest against the arrest of Congress MLA Devendra Yadav from Bhilai, Bajrang Dal workers suddenly stopped his convoy at Sirsa Gate crossing under Old Bhilai police station area. He had said that Bajrang Dal workers abused his security personnel and pushed them. They also raised slogans against Baghel.
Baghel had alleged that the ruling party BJP is scared and is using its workers to target opposition leaders. Based on the complaint of Baghel’s personal security guard, the police had registered a case against unknown workers of Bajrang Dal.
Durg district Superintendent of Police Jitendra Shukla said that the Congress leaders had informed the police on Monday that if the people involved in stopping the convoy of the former Chief Minister were not arrested within 48 hours, they would protest and gherao the police station. After this, they were asked to take permission for the protest. Shukla said that meanwhile, 16 people involved in stopping the convoy of the former Chief Minister were identified and arrested on Monday. He said that later they were released on bail from the police station, as the crimes against them were bailable. The police officer said that the Congress leaders have also been informed about the action.
He said that Congress workers protested without permission on Tuesday and went towards Purani Bhilai police station. They said that they would only submit a memorandum. But when they tried to cross the barricades put up by the police on the way to the police station, mild force was used on them to disperse the crowd. Shukla said that the situation is under control. A police officer’s nose was injured in the scuffle. Police officials said that another case has also been registered in Purani Bhilai police station in connection with the incident.
He told that Bhilai Charoda Municipal Corporation’s Congress Party Chairman Krishna Chandrakar is accused of assaulting gym operator Pushpraj in his gym along with his five other companions and bringing two youths present there to the police station and beating them in the police station as well. Krishna suspected that all these people were involved in stopping Bhupesh Baghel’s convoy. Officials said that the police have registered a case of kidnapping and assault against Krishna Chandrakar and five others on the complaint of applicant Pushpraj and two other youths. No arrest has been made in this case yet. Former Chief Minister Baghel has condemned the incident of use of force on Congress workers and alleged that the police have beaten up people who were marching peacefully.
Baghel posted continuously on the social media platform ‘X’ and said, “Bhilai – After a peaceful dharna, the workers who were going to submit a memorandum by marching peacefully were chased and beaten by the police. So now the BJP government cannot tolerate even peaceful dharna? This is the democratic right of the people. The BJP government and especially the bureaucrats following their orders should listen carefully.”
He said, “I will remember the lathicharge on Congress workers while sitting in the lap of power. And don’t forget, every blow of the lathi boosts the morale of Congress workers. We are Gandhians. We have unwavering faith in democracy. One question still remains, when will action be taken against the hooligan elements of Bajrang Dal?” Sharing a video, Baghel wrote, “It is also sad that the station in-charge was injured by the police lathi in the ruthless lathicharge on government orders during a peaceful protest. May he recover soon.”