MP: Dispute over ration in Chhatarpur turned into murder of Dalit youth, tension in the village, Rahul Gandhi said- “When a Dalit demanded his rights, he was shot”
Villagers say that irregularities in ration distribution have been going on for a long time. No action was taken even after complaining.
Published on: 10 Jun 2025, 12:28 pm
Bhopal. In Bilhari village of Naugaon police station area of Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, the dispute over ration distribution escalated to such an extent that a 19-year-old Dalit youth Pankaj Prajapati died due to firing, while his brother Ashish was injured. The incident took place at around 10 am on Sunday at the ration shop of the Gram Panchayat, which was being operated from the house of Advocate Praveen Pateria of the same village.
Videos of this shootout surfaced on Monday, in which the accused Praveen Pateria can be clearly seen firing from the roof. After the incident, there was a lot of anger in the area. The family refused to get the body postmortem done and blocked the road in front of the tehsil office. During the protest, a person tried to burn himself, who was saved by the police.
Dispute arising due to non-availability of ration became the reason for murder
The deceased Pankaj Prajapati and his brother Ashish had gone to the village ration shop to get the ration that was pending for three months. There they had an argument with the shop owner. When they came again with their family to get the ration, Praveen Pateria, Naveen Pateria and Ramsevak Arjaria started abusing and beating them.
Praveen Pateria climbed to the roof of his house and fired from there. A bullet hit Pankaj in the thigh, he was immediately referred to Gwalior Hospital, but he died on the way. A bullet also grazed Ashish, who was discharged after first aid.
People came out on the streets, refused to keep the dead body, tried to commit suicide
Family members and villagers, angry with the incident, reached Naugaon Hospital on Monday morning and refused to get the postmortem done. After this, everyone gathered in front of the tehsil office and blocked the road. During this, a person tried to commit suicide by pouring petrol on himself, but the police saved him in time.
Anger over initial negligence, later case registered under murder and SC-ST Act
Initially, the police registered a case against only one of the accused under minor sections, which further increased the anger. After about five hours of protest, the police registered an FIR against the three accused – Praveen Pateria, Naveen Pateria and Ramsevak Arjaria – under serious sections of murder, conspiracy and SC-ST Act.
Police have registered a case under sections 115(2), 109(1), 296, 3(5), conspiracy, breach of social harmony, SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) 3(1)(d), 3(1)(dh), 3(2)(v), 3(2)(va), attempt to murder and harassment of Scheduled Caste, Arms Act 25-27, and firing with illegal weapon.
Additional SP Vidita Dangar said that a police team has been formed to arrest the accused and they will be caught soon.
Dalit demanded his rights and was shot: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi reacted sharply to the incident. Calling the BJP government anti-Dalit, he said, “When a Dalit youth demanded his rights, he was shot. First an FIR was not lodged and then the postmortem was also postponed. Demanding justice has also become a crime under BJP rule. The culprits should be arrested immediately and given strict punishment.”
Ration was not available for three months
Villagers say that irregularities in ration distribution were going on for a long time. No action was taken even after complaining. According to the deceased family, they were not being given ration for three months and when they raised their voice, they were attacked with lethal weapons.
Tension in the village, police deployed
There is a lot of tension in the village after the incident. In view of the situation, police force from several police stations has been deployed in the village. The family is still adamant on the demand for the arrest of the accused.
In a conversation with The Mooknayak , State President of Scheduled Caste Congress Pradeep Ahirwar attacked the state government. He said that the government of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has completely failed to stop the atrocities on Dalits. He alleged that the government is only doing politics of events and show-off, while at the ground level injustice and violence against the Dalit community is continuously increasing.
