One dead, witnesses say SDM, men attacked them for no reason, officials admit conduct ‘suspicious’

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Aghariya said they were returning home after working in their fields, at around 8 pm, and were about 500 metres from their village when they were attacked by the officer and his men. They were all rushed to hospital, where Karan Ram died. Urao and Aghariya are now out of hospital.

While doctors refused to speak on the nature of the men’s injuries, a police official said that Karan Ram was seriously hurt, with his stomach and liver bearing the brunt of the assault.

Aghariya said he suffered injuries on his arms and legs and back, while Urao said he was assaulted on his rear, thighs and back.

While the SDM has claimed that he went to the spot on receiving information about illegal bauxite mining in the area, officials investigating the assault admitted Dahariya had not given a credible explanation for why he was at the site at night, or why he had not taken other officials along, but three civilians.

While police have arrested all four, including the SDM, Aghariya said there were 9-10 men in the group, and that they had no clue what provoked the attack. “The men stopped us and began beating us up with sticks. I begged them to stop. They asked us where we were coming from… Some of them held us from behind while others assaulted us. The SDM was present… After I fell on the ground, they still kicked me. They did not say why they were beating us,” Aghariya said.

He added that after the three of them almost passed out from the injuries, “the men put us in the backside of their car and took us to Kusmi police station, and kept us in its compound. It was around 10 pm or 11 pm by then. Then they took us to a government hospital and admitted us. A police team stayed at the hospital all night,” Aghariya said.

Demanding compensation for what they had suffered, Urao said he was the first one to be beaten up. “When I fell unconscious, they spared me and started beating up the other two… There were at least eight-nine of them… The SDM hit me on the back, and was provoking the others, reminding them that he was the SDM.”

Urao said they were afraid of being assaulted again.

A police source said, “SDM Dahariya’s role raises three major questions. One is why he did not take his bodyguard or driver to the spot? Secondly, who were the three men with him, and why did he take them to the spot? Thirdly, why did he not share the information about illegal mining with even one person in the administration?”

A Hanspur villager said the illegal mining allegations had no basis. “Bauxite was being mined earlier, but it had stopped over a month ago. Plus, the mining spot was not nearby but 7-8 km away, in Luchutpath in Jharkhand (the area neighbours Jharkhand).”

Dahariya, who was suspended after his arrest, was incidentally booked by the Anti-Corruption Bureau in 2022, when posted as chief executive officer of Janpath Panchayat in Gariaband district. A chargesheet was filed by the ACB against him in June 2023, and the case is pending in court, confirmed police.

Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More

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