‘Not asking for favours’: Man sets fire to Bhopal divisional commissioner’s office guest room in land dispute protest

BHOPAL: A routine day at the Bhopal Divisional Commissioner’s office descended into chaos on Thursday when a man set fire to the guest room in what he described as a desperate act of protest. The blaze, which lasted nearly two hours, forced the evacuation of staff from both the commissioner’s office and the neighbouring district collectorate. Firefighters eventually managed to bring the flames under control. Police identified the man as 58-year-old Ram Singh Ahirwar, a resident of Siyari village in Ganjbasoda, Vidisha district. He had travelled more than 120km to Bhopal carrying petrol in his bag. According to officials, the incident took place around 11.00am. Ahirwar arrived at the office of Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Singh, where he once again sought to present his case. After being denied a meeting and redirected to the Lok Seva Kendra, he doused furniture in petrol and set it alight. Speaking afterwards, he said his actions were the result of years of neglect. “I’m not asking for favors—I’m asking for what was rightfully given to us,” Ahirwar said.

His dispute dates back to 2021, when a 0.897-hectare plot of agricultural land granted to his late mother, Shakariya Bai, under a government lease in 1999, was reclassified as government property with a public pathway. Since then, Ahirwar has filed 12 complaints through the Chief Minister’s helpline but says he has received no resolution. He alleges that the land, once the family’s only source of income, has become a target for encroachment. He also claims he was assaulted by four men attempting to seize the property. While his six siblings have stepped back under pressure, he has continued to fight. Police said charges will be filed against him pending directions from the administration. Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Singh declined to speak to reporters after the incident.