Balrampur, Chhattisgarh: Four people, including a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), have been arrested in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh in connection with the alleged beating to death of a tribal villager during an anti-illegal mining operation in Balrampur district, police officials said.
The arrests were made following an incident that occurred during a late-night crackdown on alleged illegal bauxite mining near Hanspur village in the Kusmi subdivision of Chhattisgarh. The accused include Kusmi SDM Karun Dahariya, along with three private individuals identified as Vicky Singh alias Ajay Pratap Singh, Manjeet Kumar Yadav, and Sudeep Yadav.
Alleged Assault During Night Operation
According to Vaibhav Banker, Superintendent of Police for Balrampur district, the SDM and his associates traveled in an official government vehicle late Sunday night after receiving information about illegal mining activities.
Police allege that upon reaching the village, the group accused local residents of illegal bauxite extraction and transportation and proceeded to assault them with batons. Three villagers—Ramnaresh (also known as Ram), Ajit Ram (60), and Akash Agariya (20)—were seriously injured in the attack.
Ramnaresh was later declared dead at a hospital in Kusmi, while the other two victims are currently undergoing treatment.
Murder Case Registered, Probe Ongoing
Following a preliminary investigation, police registered a murder case and arrested all four accused. Officials stated that investigators are examining why private individuals accompanied the SDM during an official enforcement operation.
“The accused claim they were acting to prevent illegal bauxite mining,” SP Banker said. “However, the role of non-government individuals in this operation is under investigation.”
Protests and Political Fallout
The incident triggered widespread protests by tribal groups, local villagers, and opposition party workers, who accused the administration of abusing power. Demonstrators attempted to block roads and demanded strict punishment for those involved, along with compensation for the victim’s family.
Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel strongly condemned the incident, calling it “administrative terrorism.” In a post on social media platform X, Baghel accused the ruling government of protecting corruption linked to illegal mining and alleged that the victims were returning from irrigating their fields when they were attacked.
BJP Responds
Responding to the criticism, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Santosh Pandey said the state government is handling the case with full seriousness. He accused the opposition Congress party of politicizing the tragedy and urged it to reflect on incidents that occurred during its own tenure.
Police have deployed additional security forces in the area to maintain law and order. Authorities say the situation is currently under control, and further investigation is ongoing.