In a shocking incident that has sparked outrage, the Raigarh police in Chhattisgarh have arrested two individuals for allegedly stripping the uniform of an on-duty woman police constable. The assault occurred during a violent confrontation linked to an ongoing anti-mining agitation on December 27, 2025.
Viral Video Exposes Horrific Assault
The incident came to national attention after a disturbing video was widely circulated on social media platforms. The clip, uploaded by the All India Mahila Congress on Friday, shows the harrowing ordeal of the constable. In the footage, the woman is seen fallen on the ground, pleading with her assailants to stop. Despite her desperate appeals, where she addresses the protesters as "brothers" and states she was deputed from another place, the two men proceed to tear and pull at her uniform.
The attackers are heard threatening her, questioning her presence at the site, and warning her to run away. Even after her uniform was torn, the men continued their assault, hurling obscene abuses and beating her. The video, reportedly recorded by the protesters themselves, captures the constable weeping and begging for mercy while being heckled. Protesters can be heard shouting at her, threatening to beat her with slippers.
Background of the Protest and Confrontation
This violent episode is connected to a prolonged public agitation against a coal mining project. Residents from 14 villages, affected by the Gare Palma Sector-1 coal block, had been staging a sit-in protest since 12 December 2025. The protest followed a public hearing held on 8 December 2025 at Dhaurabhatha.
On the day of the incident, 27 December, around 300 villagers gathered at Libra Chowk in Raigarh district at approximately 9 am. The protesters blocked the road, causing significant traffic disruption. This roadblock led to the direct confrontation with police personnel deployed at the site. This was not an isolated act of violence; an earlier video from the same protest reportedly showed a woman Town Inspector (TI) being kicked.
Police Action and Ongoing Tensions
Following the viral spread of the video, the Raigarh police took swift action and arrested the two accused men. The case highlights the severe risks faced by law enforcement, particularly women personnel, during volatile protest situations. The incident has cast a spotlight on the intense local opposition to the mining project and the challenges of maintaining order during civil unrest.
The arrest marks a critical step, but the event raises serious questions about the safety of police officers and the escalation of protest-related violence in the region. The community tensions surrounding the Gare Palma coal block project continue to simmer, with this assault representing a severe breakdown in dialogue and civil conduct.
