According to police, the incident dates back to Tuesday, January 20, when Lokendra Ahirwar—who had previously contested the Datia Assembly election on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket—was assaulted. Ahirwar later lodged a formal complaint with the police on Thursday, following which an FIR was registered.

On Thursday night, Raja Baroni posted a three-and-a-half-minute video on social media in which he admitted to assaulting Ahirwar. In the video, he not only accepted responsibility for the attack but also threatened the police administration, directly naming the local station in-charge and the Superintendent of Police. He warned that if the names of his father and brothers were not removed from the FIR, he would ensure that the concerned officers were dismissed.

In the video, the accused claimed that his father, elder brother Umesh Ahirwar, and Chandraprakash Ahirwar had no role in the assault. He named himself along with Pooran and Dinesh Ahirwar as the perpetrators. The video went viral shortly after being uploaded, drawing sharp reactions and raising concerns over law and order.

Following the video’s circulation, police launched immediate raids. Barouni police station in-charge Dinesh Rajput said a team was sent to the accused’s residence, but Raja Baroni and his family members were found absconding. “The house was locked. Raids are being conducted at multiple locations,” Rajput said.

Police confirmed that Raja Baroni is a history-sheeter with several cases registered against him, including charges of assault and attempted murder. He had recently been released on bail in connection with a separate case registered at Kotwali police station. Soon after his release, he allegedly committed the fresh assault on Lokendra Ahirwar.

Superintendent of Police Suraj Verma said the accused’s complete criminal history is being reviewed. “His location is being traced continuously and has been found outside the district. Teams are raiding possible hideouts,” Verma said. He added that preparations are also underway to examine the role of officials involved in granting bail to the accused.

Police officials stated that strict action would be taken once the accused is arrested, with the aim of setting a deterrent example. The case has sparked debate locally over repeat offenders, misuse of bail, and the growing tendency of criminals to issue open challenges through social media.