Video showing pledge to boycott Muslims in C’garh goes viral, cops order probe

Surguja collector Sanjeev Jha said an additional police superintendent and sub-divisional magistrate visited the village on Thursday and spoke to the residents in connection with the matter.

Published on: Jan 7, 2022, 14:02:43 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh Police on Friday ordered an inquiry after a video purportedly showing residents of a village in Surguja district taking a pledge to boycott Muslim vendors and end commercial transactions with Muslims went viral on social media.

The Chhattisgarh police have ordered a probe into the purported video (Image used only for representation)

The police said they were looking for the people who went to the village and gathered the residents to take the pledge.

Surguja collector Sanjeev Jha said an additional police superintendent and sub-divisional magistrate visited the village on Thursday and spoke to the residents.

He added that the video surfaced days after a communal clash in the area this week and added police booking accused from both sides. “It started as a normal New Year celebration brawl at a local level. A few people are giving communal colour to the incident. This will not be allowed,” he said.

Assistant police superintendent Vivek Shukla said that on January 1, villagers of Ara in Balrampur district visited Kundi Kala village to celebrate New Year when the clash took place.

“The villagers of Ara, who were from a particular community, got into a brawl with residents of Kundi Kala village. After the brawl, the villagers of Ara went back to their village and returned again and got into a fight. Police rushed to the spot and registered a case and booked the villagers under relevant sections. The next day, six people from Ara were arrested and sent to jail but later got bail the same day. This enraged the Kundi Kala villagers,” said Shukla.

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Police said a group of outsiders instigated the villagers later. “Taking advantage of the situation of tensions between two communities, the outsiders raised slogans against a particular community. As soon as we got a complaint, senior officers and I rushed to the village and explained that some people are trying to give the issue a communal colour and villagers should not get misled,” said Shukla.

He added that they were yet to identify the accused who organised the pledge and raised slogan against Muslims.” We have got a complaint and soon they will be arrested. The innocent villagers have realised that they have done a mistake but they could not identify the accused.”

The police said they were scanning footage and soon the accused will be arrested.

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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