Baloda Bazar Violence: In Chhattisgarh’s Baloda Bazar (Baloda Bazar Violence), people of Satnami society staged a violent protest in the collectorate. During this, more than 100 vehicles were set on fire. The collector’s office was set on fire. During this, many important documents in the collectorate were burnt to ashes. This uproar was done by the Satnami community after the suspicious vandalism in Amar Gufa. In fact, for the last several days, the Satnami community was demanding a CBI inquiry from the government in this matter.
Table of Contents
Why did the police become helpless in Baloda Bazar?
In this arson, more than 100 vehicles were set on fire. During this, the mob also threw stones at the policemen. The violent mob thrashed the policemen with sticks. After which the police also had to flee from the spot. During this, there was heavy vandalism in the Collector’s office. Not only this, the Collectorate building was also set on fire. In this arson, important documents lying in the office were burnt to ashes.
Why is Baloda Bazaar burning for 1 month, what is the whole matter?
On the night of 15 and 16 May, some unidentified people vandalized the ‘Jaitakhambh’ located in the sacred Amar Cave of Giroudpuri Dham in Baloda Bazar. Actually, the Satnami community worships this ‘Jaitakhambh’ as a sacred symbol. After the vandalism, the Satnami community objected to this and demanded a CBI inquiry from the government. However, the police also arrested three people in this case. On the other hand, when the demand was not met, the Satnami community called for a protest at the Dussehra ground in Baloda Bazar on June 10 and a siege of the Collector’s office.
A large crowd gathered to join the protest. As the protesters moved towards the Collector’s Office, the police tried to stop them. During this, a clash broke out between the two sides. Soon the protest took a violent turn and the angry protesters set the Collectorate Office on fire.
Protest demanding CBI investigation
However, the Satnami community is demanding a central agency probe into the matter and in this connection, the Satnami community called for a protest and a siege of the District Magistrate’s office at Dussehra Ground here on Monday, in which a large number of people gathered here. The police put up barricades at several places to stop the protesters from moving towards the District Magistrate’s office.
Balodabazar Superintendent of Police Sadanand Kumar said, “The Satnami community had called for the protest and had given in writing to the administration that it would be peaceful, but the protest turned violent.”
The Superintendent of Police office building was set on fire along with a car and a motorcycle
He said that around five thousand protesters broke the barricades and pelted stones at the policemen, in which many policemen including officers were injured.
The officer said, ‘They entered the Collectorate complex and started vandalizing it. They set fire to several cars, motorcycles and the Superintendent of Police office building and pelted stones at the Collectorate, breaking the window panes.’ He said that the fire was extinguished and the situation has been brought under control.
Action is being taken on the basis of video and footage
Sadanand Kumar said, ‘We have video footage of the protest and violence. On the basis of this, strict action will be taken against those involved in the protest. The damage caused in the violence is being assessed.’
In the video of the protest site, about 50 two-wheelers, more than two dozen cars and the building of the Superintendent of Police office located in the District Magistrate’s office are seen on fire. Not only this, the mob also set a fire engine on fire. In the video, the protesters are seen clashing with the policemen.
Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai posted on Twitter and said, ‘In view of the unpleasant situation that has arisen in Balodabazar district, I have instructed the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner to immediately reach the spot. I have summoned the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police and taken preliminary information about the incident and have also asked for a report of the incident.’
What is Jaitkham? Why is the Satnami community angry about it?
Jaitkham is a word from the dialect of Chhattisgarh. Jait means victory, Kham means pillar. Jaitkham means victory pillar. Jaitkham is basically the name of the flag of the Satnami community. This flag is the symbol of their sect. People of the Satnami community usually put a white flag on a pillar on a platform or prominent place in the village or locality. Actually, the Jaitkham which has come into controversy is located in Girodpuri of Baloda Bazar in Chhattisgarh and it is a pillar higher than the Qutub Minar. Its height is 77 meters.
