Violence in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker Over Burial Dispute, Two Churches Set Ablaze
Violent clashes erupt over disputed grave in Chhattisgarh.
Violence erupted in Amabeda village of Chhattisgarh's Kanker district on Thursday, resulting in two churches being set ablaze, a grave being exhumed, and multiple injuries during clashes over the burial of a 70-year-old man. The incident, approximately 150 km south of Raipur, stemmed from disputes regarding religious customs and land usage in Bade Tewda gram panchayat.
The conflict began after the family of sarpanch Rajman Salam buried his father, Chamraram Salam, who died on December 15 following illness, on private land. Villagers protested, alleging the burial was conducted secretly and violated tribal traditions, prompting an Executive Magistrate's order for exhumation on Thursday.
Clashes intensified with stone-pelting, injuring around 20 police personnel, including additional superintendent of police Ahish Banchhor, and several villagers. Authorities employed a lathi charge to restore order, while district officials conducted meetings between opposing groups, leading to the body's removal from the village amid continued opposition to a local burial site.
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Officials stated that while the sarpanch is alleged to have converted to Christianity, the deceased remained a Hindu follower, and the burial rites reportedly followed Christian customs, provoking strong objections. In contrast, the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum president Arun Pannalal asserted that the sarpanch has not converted and performed tribal rituals, attributing the violence to misinformation about a covert Christian burial.
The district administration has deployed officials to the area for the past two days to prevent further escalation. Attacks targeted houses of Christian minority members, creating a riot-like atmosphere. All injured individuals, including police and villagers, received hospital treatment, with investigations and post-mortem procedures underway to determine appropriate legal actions.
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