The Chhattisgarh High Court has questioned the investigation process followed by Bilaspur Police in an NDPS case involving the alleged seizure of 2,925 clonazepam tablets from a woman's house in Sarkanda. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal questioned how the police officer who recorded the initial complaint and was involved in registration of the FIR could subsequently be appointed as the investigating officer in the same case. The court has sought a response from the Director General of Police through an affidavit, with the matter scheduled to come up again on August 24.

The case relates to a police raid at a house in Bandhwapara, under Sarkanda police station, where officers claimed to have recovered 2,925 clonazepam tablets, identified in the case as the drug sold under the brand name Rivotril. The woman was booked under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and has reportedly remained in custody for around seven months. Her family has disputed the prosecution's version and alleged that she was falsely implicated. Her brother has specifically alleged a conspiracy involving Sarkanda Police, the woman's brother-in-law Ramkishore and ASI Shailendra Singh. These allegations have not been independently established. According to the petitioners, the packet containing the tablets was not recovered directly from the woman. They claim that a child, aged around 14, found the packet on the terrace while flying a kite and, after checking information about the medicines on a mobile phone, informed his mother. The family says the packet was subsequently kept near the staircase as an unwanted object before police action was taken. The petitioners have sought an investigation into how the packet reached the terrace, where it came from and the circumstances in which the woman was arrested. They have also sought forensic examination of the child's mobile phone.

Court Questions Investigation

During the hearing, the division bench focused on the role of ASI Shailendra Singh in the case. The petitioners told the court that the officer had recorded the initial dehati nalishi, on the basis of which the FIR was registered, and was subsequently entrusted with the investigation. The same officer is also stated to have completed the investigation and filed the charge sheet against the woman. The court questioned the propriety of this arrangement and sought an explanation from the DGP. The bench has also directed that information concerning the past conduct and service record of ASI Shailendra Singh be placed before it.

The petitioners have raised another concern regarding the treatment of the minor who allegedly found the packet. They told the court that no FIR had been registered against the child, yet police allegedly took him to the station and kept him there for around 10 hours. They have sought an impartial examination of the entire episode, including the alleged recovery, the source of the tablets and the role of the people involved in the case. The court's order to seek an affidavit from the DGP means the police will now have to explain the procedure followed in the investigation and address the questions raised by the bench. The next hearing on August 24 is expected to provide further clarity on the court's concerns and the response from the police administration.

A watchman was allegedly murdered by four juveniles who later escaped from a government observation home in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district, triggering a massive police search and protests by the victim's family. The incident took place late Sunday night in the Sarkanda police station area.

The deceased has been identified as Narendra Kumar Khande (40), a resident of Araiband village in Takhatpur, who had been working as a watchman at the juvenile observation home for nearly a year.

According to preliminary information, the four juveniles allegedly assaulted the watchman before tying his hands and legs, strangling him and stuffing a cloth into his mouth. After the alleged murder, they escaped from the facility.

Police Launch Manhunt

The incident came to light around 11 pm on Sunday, following which Sarkanda police and senior officials rushed to the observation home.

Police have launched a search operation to trace the four absconding juveniles. Multiple teams have been formed, while investigators are examining CCTV footage, forensic evidence and other technical inputs to reconstruct the sequence of events.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the exact motive behind the killing, saying the investigation is still in its preliminary stages.

Juveniles Faced Serious Charges

According to the victim's family, the juveniles lodged in the observation home were facing serious criminal cases, including murder and rape. They also alleged that one of the accused had already turned 20 years old and was due to be transferred to a central jail.

The allegations have raised fresh questions over security arrangements and the management of inmates at the observation home.

Police have not officially confirmed the specific charges against each of the escaped juveniles.

Family Stages Protest

Following the incident, Narendra Khande's family gathered outside the observation home and staged a protest, refusing to allow the body to be shifted for post-mortem for several hours.

The protesters submitted a 12-point memorandum to the administration, demanding adequate compensation, a government job for one family member, financial support for the family, a high-level inquiry into the incident and strict action against those found responsible.

Family members also accused officials of negligence and demanded accountability for the security lapse that allegedly enabled the juveniles to escape after the murder.

Security Under Scrutiny

The escape of four juveniles after the killing has put the security arrangements at the government-run observation home under scrutiny.

Investigators are examining whether there were procedural lapses or negligence by staff that may have facilitated the escape. Officials are also assessing existing security measures, including surveillance systems and staffing arrangements.

Police Await Post-Mortem Report

Sarkanda police said the investigation is being carried out from every possible angle. Officials stated that the post-mortem report, along with forensic findings and evidence collected from the scene, will help establish the exact cause of death and the sequence of events.

The search for the four absconding juveniles is continuing, while further legal action will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation.

Bilaspur: BA student hacked to death after intervening in dispute over girl; 5 held

A 22-year-old youth was brutally murdered in the Sarkanda area of Bilaspur late Saturday night after he attempted to rescue his cousin from a group of attackers. The deceased, identified as a BA second-year student, was reportedly slashed across the neck with a sharp-edged weapon.

In a chilling incident reported from the Mopka locality under the Sarkanda police station limits, a young college student lost his life while trying to shield his younger brother from a violent assault. The victim, Abhishek Yadav, was killed on the spot after his throat was slit with a ‘chapar’ (meat cleaver) during a heated confrontation involving a dispute over a friendship with a local girl.

Late-night confrontation turns fatal

The violence broke out late Saturday night when Abhishek’s cousin, 16-year-old Omprakash Yadav, was intercepted by a group of local youths. Sources indicate that Omprakash had been in a running dispute with one Ashish Suryavanshi regarding his association with a girl in the neighborhood.

What started as a verbal spat on Friday escalated into a physical face-off by Saturday. As the group began thrashing Omprakash, Abhishek rushed to the scene to intervene. In the ensuing scuffle, the primary accused allegedly pulled out a weapon concealed in his waistband and struck Abhishek’s neck.

Chaos at the crime scene

Ground reports suggest the attack was sudden and left no time for the victims to retreat. Abhishek collapsed immediately due to heavy blood loss. Local residents and friends who reached the spot shortly after the incident rushed both brothers to Apollo Hospital.

While Omprakash is currently undergoing treatment for injuries sustained during the beating, doctors declared Abhishek dead on arrival. Bloodstains and a pair of slippers belonging to the victim remained at the site on Sunday morning as forensic teams conducted their preliminary investigation.

Angry locals surround police station

As news of the murder spread through Mopka, tension gripped the area. On Sunday, a large crowd comprising family members and local residents gathered outside the Sarkanda police station.

Nearly 60 people staged a protest, demanding immediate and "strictest possible action" against the culprits. The protesters refused to leave until senior officials assured them of a fast-track investigation. The heavy police presence remained deployed in the area to prevent any further flare-up of communal or local tensions.

Five suspects taken into custody

Following the outcry, Bilaspur police launched a swift manhunt. By Sunday afternoon, officials confirmed the arrest of five individuals in connection with the homicide. Among those detained are three brothers—Ashish Suryavanshi (22), Mahavir Suryavanshi (23), and Raghuvir Suryavanshi (26).

"The accused are originally residents of Selar village in the Sipat area but were currently living in a rented accommodation in Mopka," a police official familiar with the probe stated. Two minors have also been apprehended for their alleged involvement in the assault.

Escalating youth violence in Bilaspur

The incident has once again brought the issue of blade-related violence among youth to the forefront in Bilaspur. Local community leaders expressed concern over how a minor dispute over a conversation could lead to a daylight murder.

The police have recovered the weapon used in the crime and are currently recording statements from Omprakash, who is the primary witness to his brother’s killing. Further interrogation of the arrested suspects is underway to determine if the attack was premeditated or a result of sudden provocation.

Constable dies after stone surgery in Bilaspur; kin allege medical negligence

BILASPUR: Tensions flared at a private hospital in Bilaspur on Saturday after a 36-year-old police constable, admitted for a routine kidney stone procedure, passed away following the surgery. The family of the deceased has alleged gross medical negligence, leading to high drama and protests on the hospital premises, while the management maintains the death was caused by a sudden cardiac arrest.

The deceased, identified as Satyakumar Patle, a resident of Eramshahi village in the Masturi area, was posted as a constable at the Sarkanda police station. The incident occurred at Shri Ram Care Hospital located in the Nehru Nagar locality under the Civil Lines police jurisdiction.

Sudden health complications post-surgery

According to sources, Patle complained of severe abdominal pain on April 26, after which he approached the hospital for a check-up. Following diagnostic tests, doctors confirmed the presence of a stone and advised immediate surgery. His associates stated that a surgery package was finalized for ₹40,000.

Patle was admitted on April 28, and the procedure was carried out the following day. Initially, the doctors informed the family that the surgery was successful and the patient was recovering well. Reports indicate that Patle was conscious and communicating with his relatives throughout Thursday and Friday morning.

Family alleges delayed response

The situation took a turn for the worse on Friday evening when Patle began experiencing breathing difficulties and persistent coughing. Ashish, a friend of the deceased, alleged that the hospital staff was alerted immediately, but no specialist doctor attended to him for several hours.

"He was fine after the operation. When the coughing started, we repeatedly informed the nursing staff, but there was a significant delay in treatment. His condition deteriorated because they ignored him for four to five hours," Ashish claimed. By the time medical intervention intensified, Patle had to be shifted to a ventilator.

Clashes and heavy police deployment

As news of the constable's death spread on Saturday afternoon, a large number of relatives and villagers gathered at the hospital. Protesters accused the hospital management and the operating surgeons of negligence, demanding an immediate FIR against those responsible.

The protest prompted a heavy police deployment to prevent any untoward incident. Civil Lines TI SR Sahu arrived at the spot, followed by senior officials including Additional SP (City) Pankaj Patel and ASP (Rural) Madhulika Singh. The officers spent several hours pacifying the agitated family, assuring them of a fair investigation based on the post-mortem findings.

Hospital cites cardiac arrest

Refuting the allegations of medical negligence, the hospital management issued a statement claiming that the surgical procedure was standard and successful. They stated that the patient’s clinical parameters were stable post-op, but he suffered a sudden, massive heart attack on Friday evening.

Despite being put on life support and receiving intensive care, he could not be revived. The management also reportedly told the family at one point that an infection had reached the kidneys, necessitating dialysis, though the primary cause of death is being maintained as cardiac failure.

Police await post-mortem report

The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday. Police officials have stated that the exact cause of death will only be established through the forensic report.

"The family has submitted a complaint alleging negligence. We have registered the matter and are waiting for the autopsy results. Based on the medical report and expert opinion, further legal action will be initiated," said TI SR Sahu. The local police department has expressed grief over the loss of their colleague, while the family remains adamant about a high-level probe into the private facility's conduct.

A Bilaspur masked mob attack left five members of a family injured after more than 20 armed men allegedly stormed a residential area in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district late at night and assaulted residents with sticks and rods, police said. The incident took place in the Chingrajpara area under Sarkanda police station limits and was reportedly triggered by a dispute over men being stopped from urinating outside a house.

The attack, captured on CCTV cameras installed in the locality, has since surfaced on social media and is being widely circulated. Police have registered a case and launched a search for the accused, who remain absconding.

Family Targeted At Night

According to the complaint filed by the victims, the violence began around midnight when Sanat Sarathi, a resident of Chingrajpara, stepped out for a walk after dinner. He alleged that Vicky Ahirwar and several associates confronted him, abused him over an old dispute and threatened to kill him.

Soon after, the group allegedly attacked him with sticks. Sarathi sustained injuries to his head, hands and legs. His wife, Rekha Sarathi, was also assaulted when she tried to intervene and suffered injuries to her leg.

Three others Bedu Vishwakarma, Soni Singh Thakur and Tilak Das Manikpuri were also injured in the attack. Local residents said four women were among those hurt as panic spread across the neighbourhood.

CCTV Video Emerges

CCTV footage from the area shows a large group of men arriving with their faces covered and carrying sticks. The men can be seen entering the lane together before allegedly attacking the family and others present at the spot.

The video has become central to the police investigation. Officers said they are examining footage from nearby cameras to identify each suspect and establish the sequence of events.

Sources indicated that the visuals clearly show more than 20 men involved in the assault, suggesting the attack was planned rather than spontaneous.

Trigger Behind Violence

Residents told police the attack was linked to an argument that took place two days earlier. According to locals, some men from the accused group were urinating in front of the victim’s house when family members objected.

The objection reportedly led to a heated exchange between both sides. Investigators suspect the accused later returned in a group to settle the score. Police said the assault appears to be a case of retaliation stemming from personal enmity and a neighbourhood dispute.

Police Begin Probe

Sarkanda police have registered an FIR against the accused on charges related to unlawful assembly, assault and criminal intimidation. Officials said teams have been formed to trace those involved in the Bilaspur masked mob attack.

A senior police officer said investigators are verifying the identities of the accused through CCTV footage and local intelligence inputs. Raids are expected in connected areas to detain the suspects. No arrests had been reported till the filing of this report.

Local Fear Grows

The incident has triggered concern among residents in Chingrajpara, where locals said the scale and manner of the attack created fear in the neighbourhood. Residents said the mob entered the locality in a coordinated manner, raising concerns over law and order.

The viral video has intensified public attention, with many on social media demanding swift arrests. The incident has also added to concerns over rising street violence in residential pockets, making it a Public Interest Story in the latest India News Update cycle.

What Happens Next

Police said the investigation will rely heavily on CCTV evidence, witness statements and identification of those seen in the footage. Authorities are expected to make arrests once individual roles are confirmed.