Bhopal, June 15: Protests in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district escalated into violence on Monday over a dispute regarding encroachment on a government road. During an attempt to disperse the demonstration, a Station House Officer (SHO) sustained serious injuries from an attack by local villagers.
The incident occurred in the Patpara village area of the Kamraji police station, where residents had blocked a public road, demanding action against alleged illegal occupation of a government pathway.
Reports indicate that this dispute had been pending with revenue officials for some time, with no resolution despite repeated complaints.
As tensions rose, SHO Indraj Singh arrived at the scene with a police team, attempting to persuade the protesters to clear the road and restore normal traffic flow. However, the situation quickly spiraled out of control.
According to police, during the clash, some individuals attacked the officer with an axe and a sickle. The SHO suffered severe head injuries and collapsed at the scene. He was promptly transported to Sidhi District Hospital via the Dial-112 emergency service.
Following the incident, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Vikas Kumar Anand, along with officers and personnel from five police stations, arrived in Patpara village. They managed to disperse the crowd, clear the blockade, and restore order.
Several individuals were taken into custody during this operation. The police have named five suspects in the FIR, including Dinesh Patel alias Gunthi, Sunil Patel, Vinay Patel, Pritam Patel, and Ritesh alias Sintu Patel.
They face charges of assaulting government officials, obstructing government work, and attacking the police team. Superintendent of Police Santosh Kori described the attack on the SHO as a serious assault on a law enforcement officer performing their duties.
Kori stated that forces from multiple police stations were dispatched to the scene immediately upon receiving the information. An in-depth investigation is underway, and no suspect will be spared.
To prevent further unrest in the village, additional police forces have been deployed.
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