Raipur
In the aftermath of the violence in Loharidih, Kawardha, the Sahu community is demanding Rs 1 crore in compensation for each of the three families affected by the tragedy. They are also calling for the dismissal and registration of an FIR against former SP Dr. Abhishek Pallav, giving the government a one-week ultimatum to act.
In response, the government has appointed Additional Collector Nirbhay Sahu as the investigating officer. He will look into the circumstances surrounding Raghunath Sahu’s death, which occurred after a fire incident following the death of Shiv Prasad Sahu on September 15.
Since all three deceased were members of the Sahu community, a 16-member social investigation team visited Loharidih on Sunday. They met with the families of the victims to gather detailed accounts of the incidents and assess the current situation.
Tahal Sahu, state president of the Chhattisgarh Sahu community, held a press conference demanding murder charges against the police officers involved in Prashant Sahu’s death and called for a judicial inquiry into the deaths of Shiv Prakash and Raghunath.
Tragically, Prashant Sahu’s 8-year-old son is now orphaned, as Prashant’s wife passed away a few years ago. The community has urged the government to support the child’s education and provide a government job for him.
In this case, FIRs have been filed against 161 villagers, with over 70 arrests made, including that of Prashant Sahu, who died due to alleged police brutality. The Sahu community attributes the violence to administrative failures.
Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Sharma and Arun Saw visited the affected families in Loharidih, providing a cheque of Rs 10 lakh to Prashant Sahu’s relatives. However, the community deemed this amount insufficient and reiterated their demand for Rs 1 crore in compensation.
Prior to the arrival of the social investigation team, the Deputy CMs visited Prashant Sahu’s home and met with his mother, expressing their condolences. Following Deputy CM Vijay Sharma’s instructions, the administration distributed ration packets in the village and emphasized the need for ongoing support until the situation normalizes.
Sharma noted that the Chief Minister has directed a thorough and sensitive investigation into all aspects of the incidents involving Shiv Prakash, Raghunath Sahu, and Prashant Sahu.
Background of the Incident
On September 15, Shiv Prasad Sahu’s body was found hanging from a tree within Madhya Pradesh’s jurisdiction. An ongoing feud between Shiv Prakash and Raghunath Sahu, the village deputy sarpanch, led villagers to suspect murder and subsequently burn down Raghunath’s house.
In a desperate attempt to escape, Raghunath sought refuge in an earthen house, which was then set on fire, leading to his death by burning.
Following Prashant Sahu’s death, PCC President Deepak Baij visited Loharidih village to assess the situation.
The police have taken strict action in this case, filing FIRs against 161 individuals and arresting over 70. The situation escalated when it was revealed that Prashant Sahu died in police custody. Initially, police claimed his death was due to a pre-existing condition, but visible injuries indicated that he had suffered severe police beating.
In light of the incident, IPS ASP Vikas Kumar was suspended, and Kawardha district SP Abhishek Pallav and Collector Janmejay Mahobe were removed from their positions the following day. ASI Kumar Mangalam and female constable Ankita Gupta were also suspended, along with a total of 23 staff members, including the inspector of Rengakhar police station.
