School children were attacked and violence has been reported from the Khujner town in Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh district. According to reports, during the Republic Day celebrations, one group of people were opposed to the songs being played during the festivities.
As per reports, one group of people have alleged that the other group had objected to the patriotic songs being played and started anti-national sloganeering. While the other group has stated that the violence was started due to a minor dispute. Eye witness accounts allegedly state that the first group had started anti-national slogans and had attacked the schoolchildren which created a stampede-like situation in the venue.
As per police report, On the occasion of Republic Day, a celebratory event was organised by the Municipal Council, chairman of the council Pankaj Sharma was the chief guest. After the national anthem and national song, patriotic songs were being played. A group of people reportedly objected to the songs and started throwing away chairs in protest.
A while later, as per reports, some people came with swords and other weapons and started attacking the people, including schoolchildren, present there. Due to the attacks and the resulting stampede, twelve people, including school children have been reportedly injured.
Some eye-witness accounts of the incident were shared on social media. As per one such post, a schoolgirl is seen recounting that after an initial scuffle over the patriotic songs being played, a group of people came with swords and started attacking and threatening schoolchildren present there. The girl adds that the attackers were also beating up the schoolchildren.
https://twitter.com/ravisinghTV/status/1089546685896949761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
As per a report in Jagran, Khujner police have booked Balla Khan, Samad Khan, Zakir Khan, Abrar Khan, Shakir Khan, Ayub Khan, Imtiyaz Khan and Sameer Khan for assault and other offences.
The police have also booked some people from the other group namely Ankit Yadav, Kapil Yadav, Hariom Yadav, Kamal Yadav and others. But the local residents have alleged that they have been apprehended wrongfully and they were only helping in saving the children and trying to stop the stampede.
Local businessmen had called for an indefinite closure of the markets in protest of the wrongful arrests. Police have enforced section 144 in the area.
Prashant Khare, SP, Rajgarh has stated any charges of sedition for the alleged anti-national sloganeering will be filed after the examination of CCTV footage, witness statements and other evidence.