Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A group of protesters smeared the face of Damoh’s Chief Municipal Officer (CMO) Pradeep Sharma with black ink on Saturday, alleging that he had ordered removal of religious flags from Ghanta Ghar ahead of Navratri.
The incident has sparked outrage, with Hindu organisations staging a dharna and demanding his removal. The protesters confronted Sharma at his residence, leading him to call the city superintendent of police (CSP) and report the incident.
The controversy escalated as more Hindu groups joined the demonstration. State minister for tourism and culture Dharmendra Singh Lodhi criticised the alleged flag removal, stating that it was inappropriate and that he would discuss the matter with urban administration minister Kailash Vijayvargiya.
He assured that action would be taken if the CMO was found at fault. Collector Sudhir Kochar has ordered an investigation into the incident, with a report to be submitted to senior officials.
The controversy began on Friday night when members of Hindu organisations tried to place religious flags at Ghanta Ghar. Municipal employees reportedly stopped them, citing orders from the CMO, which led to the unrest. No arrest has been made so far. Efforts to contact CMO Pradeep Sharma were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls.
