At least 20 vehicles damaged as the team of officials comes under fierce attack
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – A team of municipal officials in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore faced fierce opposition from members of the Bajrang Dal on Wednesday as the former attempted to demolish an unauthorised cowshed built on encroached government land in the Rajendra Nagar police station area’s Datt Nagar. The standoff resulted in chaos, with nearly 20 municipality vehicles being vandalised.
The incident unfolded in the early hours when the municipal corporation team, accompanied by police personnel, arrived at the site in a densely populated area of Indore. Acting on complaints of encroachment and illegal construction, the authorities planned to take down the cowshed, which was reportedly built without prior approval.
However, tensions flared when Bajrang Dal members gathered at the scene to oppose the demolition. Shouting slogans in defence of the cows and accusing the authorities of insensitivity toward religious sentiments, the group soon turned violent. Armed with sticks and stones, they targeted municipality vehicles, breaking windshields, damaging equipment, and creating a scene of unrest.
Eyewitnesses described the situation as chaotic, with municipal workers retreating amid the mob’s aggression. A resident of the area, who requested anonymity, said, “The Bajrang Dal members came in large numbers and started attacking the vehicles. It was frightening. The cowshed has been a contentious issue for months now.”
Speaking about the incident, Deputy Commissioner Lata Agrawal stated, “We began the operation at 6 a.m. and completed it by 9 a.m. While leaving the area, a dispute broke out between the Bajrang Dal members and our employees, leading to them damaging vehicles and assaulting some of our staff.”
A complaint has been filed by the Municipal Corporation at the Dwarka Puri police station regarding the incident. Municipal Commissioner Shivam Verma and Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava have been informed about the entire matter for further action.
According to media reports, the Bajrang Dal defended their actions, citing the importance of protecting cows and accusing the municipal authorities of targeting religious institutions. Local Bajrang Dal leader Anil Tiwari said, “The cowshed is a sacred space. The municipality should have found an alternative solution rather than demolishing it.”
Authorities are investigating the incident, and steps are being taken to restore order. The confrontation has sparked widespread discussions on the involvement of political or religious groups in local administration matters. Local law enforcement has been deployed to maintain peace and ensure that such incidents do not disrupt daily life in the city.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing religious sentiments and the enforcement of law and order in urban governance.