Two bodies found in violence-hit C’garh village

The clashes, police said, erupted after a fight between school children. Three policemen were also injured in the violence.

Updated on: Apr 12, 2023, 24:53:37 IST

By Ritesh Mishra, Biranpur (Bemetara)

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Two days after a 23-year-old Hindu man was killed in a communal clash in Biranpur village, in Chhattisgarh’s Bemetara district, police on Tuesday said they found the bodies of two Muslim men with head injuries in the vicinity.

Twelve people have been arrested so far in connection with last week’s violence. (Representative photo)

The Muslim men who were found dead were identified as Raheem Mohammad (55) and his son Idul Mohammad (35). Police said their bodies were found in Korwaay village, five kilometres away from Biranpur.

“Prima facie, the two people appear to have died due to head injuries but we are waiting for a detailed post mortem report. We are confident that we will ascertain the cause of the death and whether it is connected to the violence soon. The situation is definitely delicate and we are reaching out to religious groups to ensure peace,” Bemetara superintendent of police Indira Kalyan Elesela said.

The Hindu man, Bhuvneshwar Sahu, was killed in clashes between members of the two communities on Saturday. The clashes, police said, erupted after a fight between school children. Three policemen were also injured in the violence.

A senior police officer, who has been camping in the village ever since the violence broke out, said the two Muslim men may have been beaten to death by members of the Hindu community during their protest against Sahu’s death.

“The members of the Hindu community from four to five villages around Biranpur had gathered to protest Sahu’s death. They tried to enter Biranpur but police chased them away. While returning, they must have come across the father and son and attacked them,” a senior police officer, who has been camping in the affected village, said.

“Both Raheem and his son Idul lived near the place where the school children got into a scuffle on April 8, leading to communal tension in the area,” the officer added.

Meanwhile, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh and a government job to a family member of Sahu. He also accused the opposition of trying to spread unrest in the state.

Twelve people have been arrested so far in connection with last week’s violence.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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