Angry villagers set ablaze former Sarpanch’s house Ex-Sarpanch feared dead

 

 

TENSIONS flared in Loharidih village under the Rengakhar police station of Kabirdham district, where angry villagers attacked the family of former Sarpanch Raghunath Sahu and set their house on fire. One person has been confirmed dead, while another is reported missing following the violent incident. The deceased is suspected to be former Sarpanch Raghunath Sahu, although the identity is pending. The unrest escalated when police attempted to enter the village, but villagers blocked their entry, resorting to stone pelting and physical assaults. SP Abhishek Pallav and several other police officers sustained injuries in the skirmish and were subsequently hospitalised. With tensions rising, police reinforcements and battalion personnel from across the district were deployed to regain control of the situation. Only after the villagers fled did the authorities manage to enter the village and restore order. The house of Raghunath Sahu was completely gutted in the fire by the explosion of a gas cylinder. Several family members were found injured and were rushed to the hospital for treatment. Over 80 villagers, both men and women, have been arrested in connection with the violence.

 

The violent confrontation followed the discovery of the body of Shivprasad Sahu, a villager, found hanging from a tree in the forest of neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, around ten kilometres from Loharidih. Suspecting foul play, the villagers accused the former Sarpanch’s family of involvement in Shivprasad’s death, which they believe was a murder disguised as suicide.

 

In retaliation, they stormed Sahu’s residence, assaulted the family, and set the house on fire. Family members of the Sarpanch, including Vinod Sahu, have accused the villagers of setting the house on fire after pouring petrol. He stated that his brother and father are missing, and a charred body has been found, whose identity is yet to be confirmed. Police are investigating the incident, said Police officer Pushpendra Baghel confirming that the violence stemmed from a local dispute. He said the identity of the deceased remains unknown, and further details will be known once investigations are complete. IG Deepak Jha has also reached the site to oversee the situation.