Chhattisgarh: Local BJP leader among five held for attack on church in Narayanpur
Narayanpur, Jan 3: A day after a church was vandalised during a protest by a group of tribals in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur city, five persons including a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the incident.
In a related development, police allegedly stopped state BJP leaders from visiting Narayanpur city a day after the violence.
Five persons have been arrested in connection with incidents of riot in Narayanpur on Monday, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P told PTI.
Four separate First Information Reports were registered in connection with the incidents under sections 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 153 (a) (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race etc and doing acts prejudiced to maintenance of harmony), 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy), 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult a religion) and 295 (A) (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code.
Adequate security personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order in the Narayanpur district, the senior police official said, adding that the situation was peaceful and normal.
According to BJP sources, one of the arrested men is the party's Narayanpur district president.
However, the protest on Monday was not held under the banner of the party, they said.
State BJP chief spokesperson Ajay Chandrakar claimed a delegation of party leaders including MPs Santosh Pandey and Mohan Mandavi and MLA Shivratan Sharma were stopped at Benoor police station when they were heading to Narayanpur to take a stock of the situation.
"The Congress government has been behaving like dictator and murdering democracy. Stopping our leaders from going to Narayanpur clearly indicates that those who are involved in religious conversion have protection of Congress," Chandrakar alleged.
Around 2,000 people, mostly tribals, held a public meeting in Narayanpur on Monday in protest against alleged religious conversions in the tribal-dominated area.
After the meeting, the crowd dispersed in groups.
Some of them entered a church located in Viswadeepti school premises and vandalised it.
The protestors then went on a rampage and carried out violent demonstrations in other places in the city including Bakhrupara Bazaar.
IG Sundarraj P said the police have also registered an FIR in connection with a clash between two groups at Gorra village under Edka police station limits in the district on January 1.
A separate case was registered and three persons were arrested for allegedly attacking a police team which had gone to Gorra after learning about the clash, he said.
Besides, seventeen other persons have been arrested on the charges of disturbing peace in villages along the border of Narayanpur and Kondgaon in the last few days, the official added.
Last month, a large number of people belonging to the Christian community staged a protest in front of the Collector's office in Narayanpur alleging atrocities.
Protestors from at least 14 villages in the tribal-dominated district had claimed that they had been assaulted and evicted from their homes for following Christianity.
In the state Assembly, the BJP claimed on Tuesday that religious conversion in tribal-dominated areas has increased under the Congress government's watch.
Monday's violent incidents in Narayanpur could have been averted had the police acted against complaints of conversions, they said.
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Passing out parade held at IMA Dehradun, 491 young officers join Indian Army
Dehradun(PTI): After undergoing rigorous training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, 491 cadets participated in a grand Passing Out Parade on Saturday and will now be commissioned as officers in the Indian Army.
The spectacular parade, held at the historic Drill Square in front of the academy's Chatwood Building, was reviewed by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, who served as the reviewing officer.
Along with 491 Indian cadets, 34 foreign cadets from 14 friendly countries also participated in the Autumn Term 2025 Passing Out Parade.
A total of 525 officer cadets from the 157th Regular Course, 46th Technical Entry Scheme, 140th Technical Graduate Course, 55th Special Commissioned Officers Course, and Territorial Army Online Entrance Exam 2023 Course participated in the Passing Out Parade.
The 'Sword of Honour' and gold medal for securing first place during training was awarded to ACA Nishkal Dwivedi, the silver medal to BUO Badal Yadav for second place, and the bronze medal to SUO Kamaljeet Singh for third place.
The silver medal for securing first place in the 'Technical Graduate Course' was awarded to Officer Cadet Jadhav Sujit Sampat, and the silver medal for first place in the 'Technical Entry Scheme-46' was awarded to WCC Abhinav Mehrotra.
The silver medal for the 'Special Commission Officer Course' was given to Officer Cadet Sunil Kumar Chhetri.
Among the foreign cadets, the first place in merit was secured by JUO Mohammad Safin Ashraf from Bangladesh. The Army Chief's Banner for overall best performance in the Autumn Term was awarded to Imphal Company.
As the parade concluded, helicopters showered flowers on the newly commissioned officers from the sky.
On this occasion, General Dwivedi congratulated the new officers in his address for successfully completing their training. He praised the young officers for their high level of discipline, leadership qualities, and endurance, and urged them to uphold the glorious traditions of the Indian Army and serve the nation with loyalty, commitment, and honour.
General Dwivedi said that joining the army marks the beginning of a lifelong duty and selfless service.
The parents and guardians of the newly commissioned officers were also present during the passing out parade.
