Attack on Clergy Members in Jabalpur: Three Taken into Custody and Granted Bail
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Synopsis
In Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, police have apprehended three individuals for their involvement in an assault on clergy members at the Ranjhi police station. They were granted bail due to the nature of the charges. The incident has sparked protests and raised tensions in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Three individuals arrested in connection with the assault on clergy.
- The incident occurred at the Ranjhi police station.
- Protests erupted following the attack, escalating tensions.
- Police assure an impartial investigation is underway.
- Video evidence is key in pursuing the suspects.
Bhopal, April 6 (NationPress) Authorities in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur have taken three individuals into custody concerning an assault on clergy members that occurred within the confines of the Ranjhi police station.
Given the nature of the allegations — categorized as ordinary assault — the individuals were granted bail directly from the police station.
“In accordance with legal procedures, law enforcement has opted not to reveal the names of the suspects,” stated a senior police official to IANS, adding, “They were charged under sections 351, 115, and 296 of the BNS Act before their arrest.”
This incident has also echoed in the Lok Sabha and the Kerala State Assembly, where Congress representatives walked out on April 3, leading the police to file an official complaint. Nonetheless, Satish Sahu, the City Superintendent of Police, Ranjhi, informed IANS that an FIR had already been filed against unidentified individuals, using video evidence to locate them.
As the inquiry progressed, tensions heightened when activists from Hindu groups staged a road blockade on Saturday, disrupting traffic on the Jabalpur-Dindori route for almost thirty minutes, according to reports and police sources.
The assault on clergy members at the Ranjhi police station on March 31 triggered a series of events. Protesters asserted the innocence of those named in the FIR, contending that the real perpetrators remain unrecognized.
Despite their protests, the police continued the investigation, which further intensified unrest. During the blockade, police units from Ghampaur, Khamaria, and Ranjhi stations responded to manage the situation, the sources stated.
Officials guaranteed the protesters that the inquiry was being carried out fairly to restore peace. Although police officials withheld specific details regarding the case, sources indicated that the incident dates back to March 31, when members of certain Hindu organizations intercepted two buses transporting Christian pilgrims from Mandla. The passengers, largely from the tribal community, were on a religious pilgrimage. In contrast, members of the Hindu group claimed that the purpose of the trip was to enable conversions. Tensions escalated as they escorted the buses to the Ranjhi police station, where violence erupted against clergy members who had arrived at the site.
The turmoil was captured on video and subsequently circulated across various social media platforms. In response to the incident, members of the Christian community organized a protest on April 1 outside the Superintendent of Police’s office, expressing their outrage and submitting a memorandum. According to CSP Satish Kumar Sahu, police identified three suspects from the viral video, including a woman.
