Nearly 30 devotees were injured after police resorted to lathi-charge during Durga idol immersion in Vidisha. Police blamed the disputes between the two Hindu outfits for intra-community tension during the procession of over 280 tableaux in the city. Police have registered case violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCI) against Hindi Utsav Samiti president Sanjeev Sharma and others. ASP Vinod Kumar Singh will probe the entire episode.
The injured were taken to hospital for MLC (Medico-Legal case) on Sunday morning. According to Hindu Utsav Samiti(Vidisha) president Sanjeev Sharma, police resorted lathis charges at four places—Madhavganj, Tilak Chowk, Zila Hosptial Road, Ramleela Chowk. Not only Samitis workers, but also common men who had come to join the procession also sustained injuries in police lathi charge.
ASP Vinod Kumar Singh said, “Complaints from devotees have been registered that police resorted lathi charge. On the basis of complaints, we are investigating into matter. MLC of injured has been performed.” Administration forced the devotees to shut down the mike at stage of Hindu Utsav Samiti. It leads to confusion in devotees when names of Jhaki-samitis were not announced from stages.
Notably, Hindu Utsav Samiti takes out the traditionally and customarily procession every year. Tableaux from urban as well as rural areas and outskirt areas join the procession. Hindu Utsav Samiti had made six stages (daises) for the smooth procession for immersion of Goddess Durga and tableaux.
Devotees wanted that the name of Samitis which were registered in record of administration to be announced from stage (daises) so that there would not be any confusion in devotees. However the devotees got irked as names were not announced due to intervention of administration. Soon they went on a rampage smashing the stages, and mikes and it led do commotion. Police resorted lathi charge to disperse the agitating mob. Hindu Utsav Samiti demonstrated at Kotwali demanding immediate action against police men who resorted to lathi charge.
