A protest by Congress workers and farmers turned volatile on Monday morning after police resorted to a lathi charge to stop a march toward the collector’s office. The demonstration was called against the recent externment of Kisan Congress district president Ashok Jat from Ujjain district.

The confrontation escalated around 11 am when protesters, led by local Congress MLA Mahesh Parmar, attempted to break through barricades on the Badnagar Road. Officials confirmed that at least three people were taken into preventive custody following nearly an hour of pushing and shouting between the two sides. A farmer, identified as Jayram Jat, suffered an injury below his eye during the baton charge and was later moved to a hospital.

Blocked March to Collectorate

Police had sealed off all main routes leading to the collector’s campus from early morning, anticipating the protest. Despite this, a large group of Congress workers and supporters from at least ten villages gathered near the Tarantal area, planning to walk toward the government offices.

It was near a bridge on Badnagar Road that the first major face-off occurred. According to local authorities, the group was stopped because they had not secured permission for the march. “The protesters were asked to disperse peacefully, but they refused and tried to push past the barricades,” a police officer present at the spot said, requesting anonymity. Tensions spiked when some activists climbed onto the barricades, leading to the order for a lathi charge.

MLA-Policemen Face-off

The situation turned politically charged when local MLA Mahesh Parmar was seen arguing with police officials at the site. Sources familiar with the matter said Parmar questioned the administration’s decision to extern a farmer leader while allegedly ignoring other law and order issues in the city.

“Ashok Jat would reach farmers on a single call. Such a leader has been exiled. Meanwhile, those with criminal records move openly in Ujjain,” Parmar was heard telling officers at the scene. His remarks drew sharp reactions from the police, who asked him to remain within legal limits. The debate between the lawmaker and the police line officials continued for several minutes before the MLA was escorted away from the immediate cordon.

Why the Externment Order?

The protest stems from a recent externment order issued against Ashok Jat, the local Kisan Congress chief. State-level party leaders claimed the action was retaliatory. Dharmendra Singh Chauhan, state president of the Kisan Congress, alleged that Jat had been booked under flimsy charges of obstructing government work after he raised a complaint against certain traders.

“Traders were taking 8-10 kg extra per quintal of produce. We demanded an FIR against them, but instead, our leader was externed,” Chauhan said. Officials, however, have maintained that the externment was a routine administrative measure aimed at preventing a breach of peace, though they have not shared specific case details.

Ground Reality and Next Moves

For nearly an hour before the lathi charge, the atmosphere on Badnagar Road remained chaotic. Reporters at the scene noted that protesters used tractors to block a section of the road, causing a brief traffic snarl on the busy stretch. Slogans against the local administration were raised repeatedly as some workers tried to push through the police cordon.

Local Congress leaders have now warned of a larger protest in Bhopal if their demand for revoking Jat’s externment is not met. “The next demonstration will be in the state capital,” a party functionary said late Monday afternoon. Meanwhile, police pickets have been strengthened near key government buildings in Ujjain as a precautionary measure. The three detained individuals are expected to be produced before a local magistrate later this evening.