In Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore, a parking row snowballs into communal violence
According to police, the trouble started around 9 pm on Sunday near Alipur Chowk on the old Bhopal–Indore route under the Parvati police station limits.
What began as a minor parking disagreement on Sunday night escalated into violence in Ashta in Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore district, leading to stone-pelting, vandalism and threats to raze a mosque, with police arresting four suspects.
According to police, the trouble started around 9 pm on Sunday near Alipur Chowk on the old Bhopal–Indore route under the Parvati police station limits. A senior police officer said a worker of the right-wing Karni Sena, returning from a programme in Harda, got into an argument with a local youth over a parking-related issue, which quickly drew crowds from both sides.
Within minutes, the verbal altercation turned violent. Stone-pelting broke out near Parvati Bridge in front of the rest house, and several vehicles were damaged in the chaos. The sudden outbreak of violence created panic among residents and commuters in the area.
In protest, Karni Sena workers blocked the busy Bhopal–Indore highway near the Chaupati area. The blockade caused massive traffic jams, with vehicles backed up from both the Harda and Kannauj directions.
The protesters staged sit-ins for two consecutive days, demanding action against those responsible for the attack and vandalism. Karni Sena members were also seen in videos issuing threats to demolish a local mosque if arrests did not take place.
After being alerted, police teams from Parvati and Ashta police stations rushed to the spot and resorted to firing tear gas shells and using mild force to disperse the aggressive crowds. Additional police forces from other stations across the district were deployed to prevent further escalation.
Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Akash Amalkar and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Nitin Kumar Tale personally supervised the situation on the ground.
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Police registered a case at Parvati police station and launched an immediate investigation. SDOP Amalkar said that, considering the gravity of the incident, police acted swiftly to identify the culprits using video footage collected from the scene and surrounding areas.
By Tuesday, four suspects were arrested in connection with the violence.
“Interrogation of the arrested accused is ongoing. Police are continuing investigations to identify other individuals involved in the incident. Teams are working round-the-clock to apprehend the remaining suspects,” the officer said.
According to police officials, the situation is now under control, though some tension persists in the area. The highway blockade has been cleared and traffic has returned to normal. Police presence has been strengthened in sensitive areas to prevent any fresh outbreaks of violence.
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Authorities are conducting a damage assessment and continuing their fact-finding investigation into the incident. Police have appealed to residents to maintain peace, avoid spreading rumours and cooperate with law enforcement.
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
