Daijiworld Media Network - Baktara

Baktara (MP), Mar 7: Tension escalated in Baktara town, Sehore district, on Friday after a youth was found murdered, triggering protests and violence.

The deceased, identified as 30-year-old Bablesh Chouhan of the Kirar community, was reportedly stabbed to death. Enraged community members blocked roads by placing his body, while unidentified miscreants set properties ablaze and hurled stones at the police.

Authorities swiftly deployed reinforcements, and by evening, the situation was brought under control. District Magistrate Balaguru K stated that the altercation occurred between Chouhan and his friend, Sanjay Ahirwar, from the Dalit community, after a drunken argument turned violent on Thursday night. Ahirwar, though injured, managed to reach Shahganj police station and file an FIR. He was later arrested after seeking medical treatment in Hoshangabad.

The town had witnessed tensions earlier over alleged caste-based discrimination when a Dalit family faced backlash for building a house in an influential area, leading to a social boycott of the entire Dalit community. However, the administration intervened to resolve the issue.

District officials clarified that the two incidents are unrelated, with Friday’s murder being a personal dispute rather than a communal clash. Security has been heightened in the area to prevent further unrest.