MP: Bulldozer action in Khargone continues; tribunal formed to recover damages from rioters

New Delhi: ‘Justice by bulldozers’ in Khargone of Madhya Pradesh may have come under scrutiny but state government has made it clear that the rioters won’t be spared and will have to pay the price for damaging public property.

Khargone remains in the grip of tension, following incidents of stone pelting at Ram Navami procession. The city saw arson & violence for consecutive three days as couple of incidents were reported in which vehicles were damaged & torched.

The Khargone district administration, since Tuesday evening, has demolished 3 hotels, a bakery and couple of homes. More than a dozen rioters were learnt to be hiding in these hotels. More than 29 shops in 5 localities were razed while above 80 suspects have been rounded up for alleged role in stone pelting.

Reading the riot act over violence, Home Minister Narottam Mishra also warned that the state govt will not let the rioters sleep in peace if they indulge in violence. He also claimed that sleeper cells of tukde-tukde gang was behind the ‘organised violence’.

Rioters to pay penalty for damages

Taking a leaf from Yogi govt’s book, the state administration has also vowed to recover damages from the rioters under Prevention of Damage to Public & Private Property & Recovery of Damages Act.

The state govt has formed a two-member claims tribunal to make the rioters pay penalty for damages during Ram Navami celebrations. According to an official notification, the tribunal will study the role of armed rioters and assess the damages.

The Tribunal will submit report in stipulated period, recommending what recovery should be made from the accused.

Meanwhile, curfew remains imposed in the city as it became epicentre of violence. Arsonists had set fire to 2 houses & some vehicles despite the clamp down by police. Officials say that many rioters have been identified and they will be made to pay for grave offence.