A grave miscarriage of justice in Chhattisgarh’s Balrampur has led to the arrest of Kusmi SDM Karun Kumar Dahariya after his team’s savage attack on villagers during a mining inspection killed a senior citizen. Two others remain in serious condition, amplifying calls for systemic reform.
The sequence of events in Hanspur village paints a disturbing picture. Prompted by tips of illicit bauxite digging, Dahariya, Naib Tehsildar Paras Sharma, and associates stormed the area past midnight in a rugged Thar. Pre-existing friction over loaded trucks set the stage.
Three farmers—elderly Ramnresh Ram, Ajit Umrao, and Akash Agariya—became targets as they walked home post-field work. Stopped abruptly, they endured a vicious lathi charge sans interrogation. Hospitalized urgently, Ramnresh succumbed to injuries.
Survivor Akash’s testimony chills: ‘Eight to nine assailants ambushed us at night. They wielded sticks ferociously, ignoring our pleas. Official vehicles—a white SDM Bolero and black Thar—confirmed their identity.’
Tribal fury erupted Monday at Shiv Chowk with road blockades, fiery slogans, and justice rallies. Aggrieved locals sought property bulldozing of offenders, Rs 1 crore aid, and employment for the deceased’s dependents.
Echoing sentiments, former MLA Maheshwar decried the ‘unprovoked brutality under SDM’s directive,’ pushing for compensation and prosecutions. Resident Somanath Bhagat accused Dahariya of chronic misconduct.
Controversy-prone since assuming charge, Dahariya’s arrest alongside three others—Vicky Singh, Sudeep Yadav, Manjeet Yadav—on murder charges marks a pivotal moment. With police probing intensely, this scandal exposes vulnerabilities in rural governance, urging measures to protect vulnerable communities from official excess.