Gariaband: Violence erupted in Dutkaiya village of Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district after a large mob attacked Muslim homes, setting more than half a dozen houses on fire and forcing all Muslim residents to flee.
Police officials said the violence followed an assault earlier on Sunday morning. Three men allegedly attacked local residents. One accused, Arif Khan, had faced charges in a 2024 temple desecration case and was out on bail. Police registered four cases against the accused and assured villagers of action.
Later in the day, a group vandalised Khan’s house. Tensions escalated as a larger crowd from nearby villages gathered. Armed with sticks, stones, bricks, and kerosene bottles, the mob targeted houses belonging to around ten Muslim families. Several vehicles were also set ablaze.
Police said officers remained on the ground for hours to protect women and children trapped inside locked homes. At least seven police personnel suffered injuries during attempts to control the crowd. Officials cited limited manpower due to deployment at the Rajim Kumbh.
Authorities evacuated over twenty residents using a bus after reinforcements arrived. Two adults sustained injuries during the rescue. Police later found six or seven children trapped inside a madrasa and rescued them during a separate operation. Six officers suffered serious injuries during this effort.
Violence continued even after midnight. A woman allegedly hurled a brick at a police officer, causing head injuries. Several senior officers also reported blunt force injuries.
Police stated families linked to Arif Khan had earlier left the village after the 2024 incident and returned following administrative assurances. Officials acknowledged existing tensions linked to local and economic disputes.
Police registered two FIRs related to rioting and said injured persons received medical care.
