Police in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district have arrested two individuals for allegedly assaulting and attempting to strip a woman police constable in uniform during a violent protest against mining activities last year. The disturbing incident, captured on video, has triggered widespread condemnation and raised serious questions about law and order.
Horrific Assault Captured on Video
The incident occurred on December 27, 2023, during clashes between police and protesters at Libra Chowk in the Tamnar area. A purported video of the assault, later uploaded by the All India Mahila Congress, went viral on social media, bringing the case to national attention.
In the horrifying footage, the on-duty woman constable is seen slumped on the ground, pleading with two men to stop. Ignoring her cries, the assailants are seen tearing at her khaki uniform in an attempt to disrobe her. The constable is heard begging for mercy, addressing the protesters as 'brothers' and stating she was deputed to the site from another location. The men are seen threatening her, using obscene language, and telling her to run away.
Police Action and Arrests
Following the viral video, Raigarh police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against four persons. On Friday, two of the accused were apprehended. They have been identified as Mangal Rathiya and Chinesh Khamari, both residents of Aamgaon village.
The duo has been booked under Section 109 and other relevant sections of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges include attempted murder, robbery, using criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, grievous assault on a public servant, and preventing her from discharging official duties. After their arrest, they were produced before a magistrate court which sent them to judicial custody.
Raigarh SP Divyang Patel informed that a case was registered immediately after the matter came to light. The police are analyzing video footage and other digital evidence to identify and apprehend the remaining accused who are still at large.
Context of the Protest and Political Reactions
The assault is linked to an ongoing agitation by residents of 14 villages affected by the Gare Palma Sector-1 coal block project. The protesters had been staging a sit-in since December 12, 2023, opposing a public hearing held on December 8, which they allege was 'fake'. On December 27, around 300 villagers gathered at Libra Chowk, blocking roads and clashing with police.
The incident has drawn sharp political reactions. Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Deepak Baij condemned the assault, calling it a "shameful incident that has shaken humanity." He demanded strict legal action against the perpetrators and expressed concern over the alleged deteriorating law and order in the state.
Baij also called for a judicial inquiry to determine how a peaceful fortnight-long agitation turned violent, suggesting a need to investigate if there was a conspiracy to defame the protest movement. The protesters themselves have denied involvement in the assault on the constable.
This was not the only violence against police personnel that day. An earlier video from the same protest reportedly showed a woman Thana in-charge (TI) being kicked around, indicating a severe breakdown in order during the demonstration.
