Chhattisgarh Congress MLA Devendra Yadav was arrested on Saturday in connection with the June 10 violence in Chhattisgarh's Balodabazar city, which occurred during an agitation by the Satnami community. However, the MLA accused the BJP government of falsely blaming Congress workers in the arson-related case.
Yadav was apprehended from his residence in the Bhilai Nagar area of Durg district and brought to Balodabazar, the headquarters of Balodabazar-Bhatapara district, where he was arrested, according to PTI.
Devendra Yadav’s Arrest
On Saturday, police personnel from Balodabazar with their Durg counterparts reached Yadav’s house at 7 am. When the news spread, his supporters gathered in large numbers outside the house of the Congress MLA and tried to protect him and also raised slogans.
The police, PTI reported, finally managed to apprehend Yadav around 5 pm.
Yadav, a prominent young face of the party, is a second-term MLA from Bhilai Nagar constituency.
PTI quoted sources as saying that police had summoned Yadav at least three times before to record his statement, but he failed to appear. Consequently, he was apprehended.
Yadav, who has denied the charge, was arrested in connection with a case registered at Kotwali police station related to an arson incident at Balodabazar.
The case was registered under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 147 (punishment for rioting), 186 (voluntary obstruction of a public servant from performing their duties), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 307 (attempt to murder), and other relevant sections of the India Penal Code and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.
June 10 Arson Incident
According to the report, unidentified individuals vandalised the ‘jaitkham’ or ‘victory pillar’, a sacred symbol worshipped by the Satnami community, which is located near the Amar Gufa at Giroudpuri Dham in the Balodabazar-Bhatapara district on the intervening night of May 15 and 16. This triggered a massive protest in June
During a June 10 protest called by the Satnamis against the defacing of the ‘victory pillar’, a mob set fire to a government office, and over 150 vehicles in Balodabazar city. This resulted in the imposition of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Congress leaders, including Yadav, allegedly attended a public meeting during the Satnami demonstration at Dussehra Maidan. Around 150 people, including members of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and the Bhim "Regiment", were arrested in connection with the June 10 arson.
Congress Party Reaction
Yadav slammed the BJP and said he wasn’t scared of the government and would continue his fight for the people. Yadav said the state government has been trying to “implicate Congress workers in the Balodabazar arson case”. He added that the government took action against him for raising his voice “for the youth of the Satnami community and innocents".
The MLA also said that he had appeared before Balodabazar police in the past after being summoned.
Former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel called Yadav's arrest “a political vendetta” and asked the police not to act under political pressure.
Baghel said the role of the government and the police in the incident was suspicious. He noted that none of the BJP members was questioned or arrested, despite the alleged involvement of former BJP MLA Sanam Jangde.
The arrest of Devendra Yadav is purely out of political malice and "we oppose it", he added. "We will take legal suggestions and decide accordingly the future course of action," Baghel was quoted as saying by PTI.
Yadav is also an accused in a case filed by the Enforcement Directorate and the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offence Wing related to an alleged coal levy scam uncovered during the Congress’s tenure in Chhattisgarh, the PTI report said.
The Satnami community was founded by medieval-era social reformer Baba Guru Ghasidas. It represents the largest Scheduled Castes group in Chhattisgarh.