Dalit village set on fire in post-poll violence in MP’s Vijaypur

Madhya Pradesh: In a disturbing incident in Gohta village, Madhya Pradesh, a Dalit community was targeted with arson in the wake of bypolls for the Vijaypur Assembly seat. The violence erupted after the voting concluded late on Wednesday.

Reports indicate that miscreants caused chaos in the village, throwing stones and vandalizing property. Many frightened residents sought refuge in a local police station.

Despite the alarming situation, there are claims that law enforcement has failed to take action against the attackers. Vijaypur police station in-charge, Pappu Singh Yadav, stated that police teams were dispatched to manage the situation, which arose from conflict between two groups.

The bypolls in Vijaypur were marred by minor violence, protests, and allegations of booth capturing. During the polling, there were injuries reported in the Veerpur area due to a confrontation over voting rights. To ensure their safety, candidates from both the ruling and opposition parties were housed in guest accommodations.

Violence had flared up two days prior to the elections when armed individuals opened fire on villagers, resulting in injuries to three residents. The series of violent incidents has led to public outrage and demands for immediate action to safeguard the affected families.

The bypolls in Vijaypur, part of the Morena Lok Sabha constituency in the Gwalior-Chambal region, were called after the resignation of sitting Congress MLA Ramniwas Rawat, who subsequently joined the ruling BJP and became state forest minister. The Election Commission reported a voter turnout of 75% during the elections.

Tensions persisted throughout the polling period, with clashes and accusations of electoral misconduct between BJP and Congress supporters. Top leaders from both parties staged protests, including sit-ins near the Election Commission’s office in Bhopal, each alleging malpractices by the other side.