Uneasy calm in Chhattisgarh’s violence-hit Kawardha town

On Tuesday, curfew was imposed when violence broke out after a clash over the removal of religious flags from a thoroughfare in Chhattisgarh’s Kawardha town

Published on: Oct 7, 2021, 10:21:00 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

An uneasy calm prevailed in Kawardha town in Chhattisgarh’s Kabirdham district after communal violence prompted authorities to impose curfew there on Tuesday. Around 1,500 policemen were deployed in the town and the borders of the district were sealed.

Tension started on Sunday evening over the removal of religious flags from Kawardha town’s Lohara Chowk area (Phto Courtesy- Chhattisghar BJP Twitter)

“No violence was reported after Tuesday evening. Heavy police forces have been deployed in the city. Police are scanning all the videos of violence and identifying the miscreants and the process of registering FIRs is going on,” said police superintendent Mohit Garg. He added the situation is under control and peace talks between the two communities are going on.

Around 70 people have been arrested for rioting.

On Tuesday, the curfew was imposed when violence broke out after a clash over the removal of religious flags from a thoroughfare. Around a dozen people including three policemen sustained minor injuries in the violence.

The tension started on Sunday evening over the removal of religious flags from the town’s Lohara Chowk area.

On Tuesday, a protest turned violent as bikes were torched and some houses were ransacked, forcing police to resort to lathi-charge.

Also Read: Punjab, Chhattisgarh announce ₹50 lakh for farmers killed in Lakhimpur Kheri

On Wednesday, a delegation of the opposition BJP leaders visited the town.The BJP said the delegation was not allowed to meet the “victim” families. The members of the delegation staged a sit-in in protest.

The authorities cited the ban on the assembly of over four people for the denial of permission.

“The state government is not at all concerned for the people of the state and it is responsible for the tension in Kawardha. The administration has made the situation uncontrollable by taking one-sided action and when we want to meet the victims, we are being stopped which is undemocratic,” said opposition leader Dharmlal Kaushik.

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

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.