Police in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, have apprehended five individuals linked to the violent attack on a female constable amid an anti-coal mining demonstration in Tamnar block. The arrested suspects, residents of Amgaon and Jharna villages, face serious charges under the Indian Penal Code and IT Act for the assault involving life-threatening actions, use of sticks and rods, verbal abuse, and violation of dignity.
Two other suspects are currently evading arrest, with two previously detained and three still at large. Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation utilizing video evidence, social media content, and eyewitness testimonies to ensure accountability. Officials have pledged stringent action against all those directly or indirectly involved in the incident.
The distressing video capturing the assault on the female constable, where her uniform was ripped off, has circulated widely on social media platforms, prompting widespread condemnation. The incident transpired on December 27, 2025, during clashes between villagers protesting the Gare Pelma Sector-I coal block allocation to Jindal Power Limited and law enforcement personnel at CHP Chowk in Libra village.
The protesters, hailing from 14 affected areas, had been demonstrating against a public hearing conducted on December 8 in Dhaurabhantha. In the viral footage, the constable can be seen imploring the attackers with folded hands, tearfully pleading for mercy. Despite her appeals, the assailants, reportedly male individuals, persisted in the assault, filming the deplorable act as it unfolded.
The violence escalated into stone-pelting, police baton charges, vehicle arson – including a police bus, jeep, and ambulance – and vandalism at Jindal Power’s coal handling facility. Numerous law enforcement officers, including Sub-Divisional Officer of Police Anil Vishwakarma, sustained injuries during the clashes.
The Chhattisgarh Congress has decried the assault as “shameful,” urging an investigation into potential conspiracies aimed at discrediting the protest movement. In response, the district administration has initiated steps to annul the public hearing for the mining project.
