Mob vandalises, torches properties in Chhattisgarh village as police protect minority residents towards them

A mob in Dutkaiya village of Gariaband district in Chhattisgarh on Sunday (February 1, 2026) vandalised and set on fireplace over half a dozen homes owned by a minority neighborhood, the police mentioned. A minimum of seven policemen suffered accidents whereas shielding over two dozen folks, together with ladies and kids, towards a mob of a whole bunch for a number of hours.

The communal conflict was the fallout of a series of occasions that started just a few hours earlier when three males, one in every of them out on bail in a temple desecration case, allegedly assaulted locals, mentioned the police.

Gariaband Superintendent of Police Vedvrat Sirmaur advised journalists on Monday (February 2, 2026) that in 2024, Dutkaiya resident Arif Khan was positioned within the Mana Juvenile Correctional Dwelling after he and two others allegedly vandalised the Chaveshwar Shiva temple within the village. One other officer added that Mr. Khan, now 18, was granted bail the identical yr however by no means returned to the village till the early hours of Sunday (February 1, 2026), when he and two of his accomplices from Raipur allegedly assaulted 4 males, together with at the very least one eyewitness of the desecration case.

Whereas the police registered 4 instances towards Mr. Khan and his accomplices and warranted the villagers that he could be arrested, a small mob vandalised Mr. Khan’s home within the village. A police staff was then despatched to the village they usually counselled the villagers towards any additional provocation.

Nonetheless, peace was short-lived and shortly, a bigger mob of a number of a whole bunch from Dutkaiya and adjoining villages had gathered on the spot. Armed with sticks, bricks, stones, and kerosene bottles, they allegedly tried to enter the properties of the ten Muslim households who had locked themselves in.

“The gang set the autos ablaze and demanded that they be allowed to enter the properties of Muslims. Not solely have been we outnumbered however there was a manpower crunch as a result of Rajim Kumbh [a major religious congregation in the State]. For the subsequent few hours, we stood guard and ensured that the mob didn’t enter or hurt the residents that included ladies and kids,” mentioned the police officer.

Whereas the policemen stood guard, the gang pelted stones and even tried to enter the properties from adjoining homes. Nonetheless, the police groups held them off until the reinforcements arrived in two batches by 9 p.m. “Makes an attempt to pacify the gang proved futile. We began shifting the trapped victims to 1 place,” recalled the officer.

It was solely after the arrival of the final batch that the police used power and dispersed the mob whereas rescuing the 20-odd residents in a bus. A minimum of two adults from these households sustained accidents. The police then learnt that there was a gaggle of six or seven kids trapped in a madrasa. They have been subsequently rescued and 6 policemen sustained grievous accidents.

Whereas the scenario was introduced underneath management round midnight and the police have been getting ready to go away, a girl from the mob threw a brick at a policeman, who suffered extreme head accidents. Others, together with the officer quoted above, additionally sustained superficial or blunt accidents.

When The Hindu visited the village on Monday (February 2, 2026) afternoon, charred autos and partially burnt homes might be seen. A big police contingent was additionally current. All of the Muslim households have left the village and proceed to take shelter elsewhere.

After the 2024 incident, the households of these associated to Mr. Khan had left the village fearing backlash however have been satisfied by the administration to return, mentioned one other police officer. Residents mentioned that there have been tensions between the 2 communities however these have been resulting from financial and numerous different causes.

“In the meantime, the above incidents led to unrest among the many villagers of Dutkaiya, and a crowd gathered close to the accused’s home. Upon receiving data, the police power instantly rushed to the scene, introduced the scenario underneath management, and dispersed the gang. To forestall lack of life and property, vital minimal power was used to disperse the unruly crowd, and the injured have been despatched to the hospital for remedy,” an official assertion issued by the police on Monday (February 2, 2026) learn.

Two FIRs have been registered in reference to the rioting.