A 36-year-old man identified as Govind Chhagan of Mahida, a resident of Tamatia village in Banswara district, Rajasthan was hacked to death by a group of at least seven people belonging to different communities. The brutal murder led to violent clashes between the two tribal communities, leaving at least 23 houses torched. The accused, belonging to the Katara community, hacked Chhagan with an axe, killing him on the spot.

Why are two tribal communities clashing in Banswara?

The Deputy Superintendent of Police Mahendra Kumar said the initial investigation suggests a dispute between two families of the two communities, related to Chhagan’s sister. Allegedly she was in a relationship with a person from the other community, which Chhagan and his family opposed. A year ago, Chhagan’s sister was married off to another man, after which tension escalated between the two families and their respective communities. SP Kumar said, “Since then, at least three cases of assault and property damage registered between the two families have occurred.”

How was Chhagan murdered?

SP Kumar said that while Chhagan was returning home from a court proceeding, he was intercepted by the 7 accused from the Katara family, who were also returning from the case hearing. They attacked him with an axe and killed him on spot. Immediately after receiving information about the murder, police reached the spot, secured the area for forensics, sent the body to the mortuary, and started the investigation. However, the matter escalated when members of the deceased Chhagan’s community gathered and started torching houses of the Katara community. Local police officer Ramesh Chandra Patidar, said around 400 to 500 people of Mahida community gathered around 10 pm. “When police teams reached the village, an angry mob had already set nearly 23 houses and several two-wheelers on fire. Both groups were also pelting stones at each other.”

Special Team Formed To Stop Large-Scale Violence

Ramesh Chandra Patidar noted that force was used to disperse the mob, at least three fire tenders were deployed to control the blaze. “No serious injuries have been reported, some police officers and villagers sustained minor injuries. However, residents of the affected village have been evacuated as a safety measure.”

Currently the situation in the village of Banswara remains tense, as members from both the communities staging a sit-in outside the local police station. Police from 4 stations have been deployed to keep the situation under control. And a special team has been formed to arrest the absconding accused.

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