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Armed men attack participants of procession in Bhopal, 20-year-old stabbed to death

According to police, Yuvraj Banskar, who lived with his family in Bhopal and was originally from Lalitpur district in Uttar Pradesh, was stabbed to death. Two others, Rohit Sen and Sanju Verma, were also attacked.

Police have arrested one accused, identified as Piyush Soni. (File Photo)

A 20-year-old was killed after a group of armed assailants attacked him and others while they were taking part in a religious procession in Bhopal on Sunday night.

According to police, Yuvraj Banskar, who lived with his family in Bhopal and was originally from Lalitpur district in Uttar Pradesh, was stabbed to death. Two others, Rohit Sen and Sanju Verma, were also attacked.

Police have arrested one accused, identified as Piyush Soni. A senior police officer said, “The main accused, Piyush Soni, was arrested on the basis of the statement of eyewitnesses. Two other men have been arrested. We are on the lookout for other accused persons as well.”

According to police, the attack took place during a Shobha Yatra procession organised by the Yuva Hindu Utsav Samiti. The procession, which started from Sindhi Colony and was going towards Mata Mandir Square, was reportedly disrupted when armed men suddenly attacked people who were dancing to DJ music. The ensuing chaos left three young men severely injured. Yuvraj subsequently succumbed to his injuries.

Following the incident, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh of the Congress and the party’s state president Jitu Patwari visited Hamidia Hospital on Monday, where they met Yuvraj’s family and offered their condolences. The leaders also raised concerns about the law and order situation in the city. Addressing senior police officers at the spot, Singh said, “It is forbidden to carry any kind of weapon during a rally. Will you take action if I show you photos and videos of people carrying weapons ?”

Sanju, who was a friend of Yuvraj’s and was also injured in the attack, recounted the incident. “We were dancing during the rally. Then someone else pushed Piyush, but he grabbed my collar. I slapped him. As we were leaving, he returned with his gang and attacked us. That’s when Yuvraj died,” Sanju said.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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