A dispute over the burial of a villager, who was also the father of the local sarpanch, erupted into violent clashes in Kanker district, leaving more than 20 police personnel and an Assistant Superintendent of Police injured. The incident, which involved vandalism and arson, has left Badetevda village in the Amabeda region tense and under heavy police deployment.
Root of the Conflict: A Burial Against Tribal Custom
The core of the dispute dates back to December 16, when village sarpanch Rajman Salam buried his 70-year-old father, Chamra Ram Salam, on private land. A section of villagers strongly objected to this act, alleging that the last rites were not performed according to traditional tribal customs. They claimed the sarpanch followed the practices of a converted religion and demanded that the grave be opened to rectify the perceived wrong.
Despite prolonged discussions held by police and revenue officials with the aggrieved villagers, a consensus could not be reached. The tension continued to simmer in the village for days, with authorities attempting to mediate the sensitive issue.
Escalation into Violence and Exhumation Order
On Thursday, the situation reached a boiling point as villagers again pressed for exhuming the body. When police attempted to maintain order, clashes broke out, resulting in minor injuries on both sides. Following this, an executive magistrate issued a formal order to exhume the body under relevant legal provisions.
The process of exhumation, however, acted as a catalyst for further violence. During and after the exhumation, the crowd turned aggressive, resorting to stone-pelting, vandalism, and arson, according to police reports. The mob targeted a church prayer house and the sarpanch's own residence, damaging the structures and setting fire to items stored inside.
Aftermath and Heavy Police Deployment
The violence resulted in significant injuries to the police force. Bastar range police confirmed that more than 20 officers were hurt, including Antagarh ASP Ashish Banchhor. In response, authorities rushed additional police units to the area, erected barricades, and heightened vigilance to prevent any further unrest.
Senior police officials, including Bastar range IG P Sundarraj P and Kanker SP Indira Kalyan Elesela, camped in the area on Thursday and Friday to monitor the volatile situation personally and hold talks with community representatives. The district administration stated that the situation was under control but precarious.
As a security measure, the entry of outsiders to Badetevda village was restricted and the area remained sealed off throughout Thursday and Friday. The administration's primary focus is now on restoring calm and finding a lasting resolution to the deeply rooted cultural and religious sensitivities that triggered the conflict.
