A mob armed with wooden sticks barged into the mall in Raipur city on Wednesday and vandalised decorations and installations made for Christmas. (Photo: Videograb/X)
Two women, a young child each in arm, pose for a picture in front of a red-themed installation; joyous toddlers run about as their parents indulgently chase them near a giant bell; couples take a stroll, some holding hands as they window shop; college students, dressed in their winter best, excitedly greet each other before lining up for a selfie near a stage.
The visitors, from different faiths and walks of life, condemned the violence in one voice and expressed solidarity with the mall that seemed to have bounced back almost overnight from the setback.
Manoj, a Raipur resident who does not wish to share his last name, tells The Indian Express, “I am a Hindu but I condemn that incident. Protesting is fine but no one should get violent. They (the vandals) must be punished.” Here with his son, who is in his 20s, Manoj says, “My son told me that they have decorated the mall again. I am really happy to see that they did not bow down before the fear of the vandals. I am very proud of my son because he says everyone has the right to be happy and no one should stop others from celebrating their religion. I think the next generation is better than us.”
The centre of attraction at the popular mall in Chhattisgarh capital is a 35-feet “Grand Bell” decorated with warming lights and draped in red and green fabric with golden bells, stars, trumpets and toy horses affixed on it. From a distance it looks like a Christmas tree, not very different from the one that was destroyed last week.
Among the visitors spotted admiring the installation was Ma Shiao Lin who is accompanied by her husband Biswajeet Panda and their five- month-old daughter Krishita.
“I heard that the mall’s decorations were damaged but it is good that they have set it up again. I learnt about it (the re-decoration) from Instagram. The decorations over here look better than other malls. Many people cannot afford setting up themes at home so they come here instead and click pictures,” says Lin.
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The Instagram reel that Lin is referring to was shared by the mall authorities on their page, contrasting the scenes of vandalism with those of celebrations and festivity after the re-decoration. The reel has already garnered 1,83,000 likes with most of the comments expressing support for the mall management and calling for strict punishment for the attacker.
The six Bajrang Dal workers arrested in the case, though, were granted bail by a Sessions Court Wednesday. They are expected to walk out of jail Thursday.
Rani from Bhilai, who is visiting the mall with her husband Raja Khan and their two toddler sons, says, “I heard about the vandalism. It was wrong, they should not have done that. I did not know they (the mall authorities) had decked it up again. The decorations are very good.”
For 17-year-old Suman Patel, Magneto mall has been a favourite haunt ever since she moved from Janjgir Champa to Raipur for studies. “I felt terrible when I saw the reels which showed the mall being vandalised. But I am very happy that they have done it up again. It is looking more beautiful than even the earlier decoration,” she says.
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Unlike the patrons, the mall authorities seem reluctant to speak to the media, only sharing that they have moved on from the incident. They would rather let their now-viral reel do the talking. “We were vandalised. But we are up and ready. Again to cheer up the city,” says the reel announcing the holiday theme “Winter Wonderland”.
Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India.
Expertise and Experience
Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of:
Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages.
Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states.
Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering:
Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements.
Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law.
Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in:
Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel.
Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India.
Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More
