The Chhattisgarh government has cleared a long-pending round of alderman appointments, nominating more than 200 members across 32 urban local bodies in the state. The Urban Administration and Development Department issued official orders covering municipal corporations, municipal councils, and nagar panchayats in the Raipur and Surguja divisions.

Raipur Nagar Nigam leads the list with 11 aldermen appointed — the highest for any single body in this round. Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Administration Minister Arun Saw had signalled in recent weeks that the process was nearly complete and orders would follow shortly. The department has now made it official.

In the Raipur division, appointments have been made across a broad spread of urban bodies including Mana Camp, Tilda-Newra, Gobra Nawapara, Arang, Mandir Hasaud, Abhanpur, Kharora, Kunra, Samoda, and Chandkhuri, along with urban bodies in Gariaband, Mahasamund, Dhamtari, and Balodabazar-Bhatapara districts.

The Surguja division has also received its list. Ambikapur Nagar Nigam is included, alongside urban bodies in Balrampur, Surajpur, Korea, Jashpur, and the Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district.

The appointments have been made under the Chhattisgarh Municipal Corporation Act, 1956 and the Chhattisgarh Municipalities Act, 1961, and will remain in effect until further orders. The government said the nominations are intended to bring broader public participation and administrative experience into the functioning of these bodies.

Aldermen, or nominated councillors, are non-elected members appointed by the government to urban local bodies, typically to bring in expertise or representation that elected councils may lack. The appointments had been awaited for some time across these bodies, and their delay had drawn attention in local governance circles. With orders now issued across two major divisions simultaneously, the remaining divisions are expected to follow.

A shocking murder case has emerged from Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund district, where a 17-year-old boy has been taken into custody for allegedly killing his 18-year-old girlfriend after she repeatedly insisted on marriage. Police said the accused allegedly lured the victim with the promise of a birthday surprise before attacking her with a stone and burying her body in sand near a stream to conceal the crime.

The incident came to light in the Khallari police station area after the decomposed body of the victim, identified as Bharti Tandon (18), was recovered from a sandy patch near a village stream. According to investigators, the accused is a Class 11 student and had been in a relationship with the victim for a considerable period.

Police said Bharti had celebrated her 18th birthday on June 19. Later that night, she reportedly left her home carrying a bag with clothes after the accused assured her over the phone that he was ready to marry her and wanted to celebrate her birthday together.

Investigators said the two met near the stream, where they allegedly had consensual physical relations. During questioning, the juvenile reportedly confessed that he had already decided to end the relationship because he did not want to marry her.

According to the police investigation, the boy allegedly told Bharti that he had a "special birthday gift" for her and asked her to close her eyes. As soon as she did, he allegedly struck her on the head with a heavy stone from behind. She died at the spot due to severe head injuries and excessive bleeding.

Police said the accused then attempted to destroy evidence by burying the body under sand in the stream bed. However, part of the body later became exposed, and villagers noticed a foul smell. Some portions of the victim's feet had reportedly been damaged by animals before the body was discovered.

Bharti's family had lodged a missing person complaint after she failed to return home on June 20. Relatives and villagers searched for her before approaching the police.

Following the recovery of the body, forensic experts examined the crime scene. Police also recovered the victim's leggings, strands of hair and other belongings from the area. Her bag was later found beneath a nearby bridge, strengthening the investigation.

Officials said call detail records and other evidence pointed towards the juvenile suspect. During interrogation, he allegedly admitted to the crime and described how he planned the murder after feeling pressured by the victim's repeated insistence on marriage.

Police believe the accused deliberately gained the victim's trust by agreeing to marry her, encouraging her to leave home on the night of her birthday before carrying out the alleged murder.

The victim had recently passed Class 11 and taken admission in Class 12. She was the eldest among four siblings. Her death has left the family and the surrounding villages in shock.

The accused was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board after being taken into custody and has been sent to a juvenile observation home. Police said further investigation is underway, including forensic examination of the recovered evidence and completion of legal formalities.

The case has once again highlighted concerns over crimes involving young couples and the consequences of interpersonal disputes escalating into violent offences.

Victims' mothers allege FIR delay, evidence tampering, VIP treatment for suspect

Chocolate Lure, Rope Restraints

Two seven-year-old girls were allegedly raped by a 17-year-old neighbour in the Sirgitti police station area of Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, in a case that has now spiralled into a serious police misconduct controversy. According to the victims' families, the accused had been luring the children with chocolate for several days before family members caught him in the act on May 27. During the assaults, the accused reportedly tied the girls with rope to restrain them.

The accused was eventually arrested on May 29 — two days after he was caught — but the families say the delay was only the beginning of a larger pattern of negligence and alleged cover-up by local police.

FIR Filed Only After Senior Officers Stepped In

Despite the family reporting the incident promptly, the Sirgitti police station did not register an FIR immediately. The victims' families spent hours moving between the police station and senior officials before a report was finally filed — and only after the intervention of higher-ranking officers. The mothers of the two girls allege that during this critical window, the station in-charge and investigating officers were focused not on arresting the accused but on mediating with his mother.

According to one of the victims' mothers, the accused's family even offered police a sum of Rs 10,000 to 20,000 during this period. She alleged that officers were receptive to the overture and that pressure was subsequently applied on the victim's family to settle the matter out of court.

Evidence Left Uncollected

In a particularly damaging allegation, the family says police were immediately informed about physical evidence connected to the assault — including rope and other items at the scene. Despite this, the Sirgitti police reportedly made no effort to seize or preserve this material. The family fears crucial forensic evidence may now be destroyed or contaminated as a result of this inaction.

A medical examination of the two girls confirmed pain and physical indicators consistent with the alleged assault. Despite this, sources close to the family say police appear to be working to weaken the case rather than build it. The accused's medical examination, they allege, was recorded as "nil."

Accused Gets VIP Treatment, Victims Sit in the Sun

The family's account paints a disturbing picture of the atmosphere inside the police station. While they were allegedly made to wait in the heat outside, the accused's mother was reportedly seated comfortably inside and allowed repeated family visits. The victims' family has named Station In-charge Abhay Singh Bais, Sub-Inspector Sheetal Prasad Tripathi and Investigating Officer Santoshi Agarwal as those allegedly responsible for shielding the accused.

Threats from the accused's side have reportedly continued even after the arrest, creating what the family described as an atmosphere of fear for the girls and their relatives.

Seven Demands Before SSP

The families have met Bilaspur SSP Rajnesh Singh to formally register their grievances. A letter has also been sent to the Union Home Minister. Their demands include transfer of the named officers, an independent investigation by a senior official, immediate security cover for the two families, seizure of all crime-scene evidence, and accountability proceedings for those responsible for the FIR delay and alleged evidence lapse.

They have also asked that the three named officials be kept entirely away from this case until any departmental inquiry is concluded.

Background: Related Case in Raipur

The Bilaspur case surfaces amid broader concerns about child safety in Chhattisgarh. In a separate incident in Raipur, a 65-year-old man identified as Abdul Sajjad Ansari was accused of raping a nine-year-old girl over five consecutive days after luring her with chocolate. Authorities in that case subsequently demolished the accused's illegally constructed shop. Both cases raise questions about the vulnerability of young children in residential neighbourhoods and the adequacy of immediate police response.

The Bilaspur case now awaits action from senior officials. Whether the SSP intervenes decisively — or the matter is quietly buried — will determine whether justice reaches two seven-year-old girls in Sirgitti.

Mandsaur Minor Steals Mother's ₹15-20 Lakh Jewellery for Girlfriend

Teen hands over family gold-silver ornaments to underage partner before Delhi trip

In a strange case of teenage infatuation, a minor boy from Babulda village in Mandsaur district allegedly stole his mother’s gold and silver jewellery worth ₹15 to 20 lakh and gifted it to his underage girlfriend before leaving for Delhi with his ailing mother. The matter came to light after the family returned from the capital and discovered the theft.

Bhanpura police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for theft and recovered the jewellery following investigation.

Sequence of Events

According to police, the boy accompanied his mother to Delhi for her medical treatment. During their stay, he went missing and a missing person report was filed at Delhi’s Safdarjung police station. After some days, the mother returned to the village. While preparing to attend a wedding, she checked her cupboard and found the jewellery boxes empty.

Shocked by the discovery, she immediately lodged a complaint at Bhanpura police station.

Police Probe Reveals Love Angle

During investigation, Bhanpura police examined multiple angles. SHO Ramesh Chand Dangi said officers found that the minor boy was in a relationship with a girl of similar age from the same village. 

Further questioning revealed that before leaving for Delhi with his mother, the boy had taken the jewellery from home, packed it, and handed it over to his girlfriend.

“When the girl was questioned, the boy got wind of it. He then presented himself at the Delhi police station. With coordination between the two police stations, he was later handed over to his family,” the SHO added.

Jewellery Recovered

Police have seized the jewellery worth ₹15-20 lakh from the girl. Both the boy and the girl are minors, and authorities are handling the case sensitively as per juvenile justice norms.

The incident has sparked concern in the village regarding unchecked mobile phone access and growing cases of teenage relationships leading to family disputes. Local residents described it as an “unfortunate case of blind love” that could have been avoided with better parental supervision.

Family Trauma

The mother, who was already undergoing medical treatment, faced a double blow — worry over her missing son and the loss of hard-earned family jewellery. Family members said they had no clue about the boy’s intentions when they left for Delhi.

The boy has been counselled by family elders and police. Authorities have also spoken to the girl’s family.

Police Statement

Speaking to reporters, Bhanpura Station House Officer Ramesh Chand Dangi confirmed: “The minor boy took advantage of his mother’s medical trip and gave away the family jewellery to his girlfriend in the village. Through proper coordination with Delhi Police, the boy was traced and the jewellery was recovered. We have registered a case and further proceedings are underway as per law.”

Police have appealed to parents to monitor their children’s activities and maintain open communication, especially during adolescence.

The case once again highlights emerging challenges in rural and semi-urban areas of Madhya Pradesh where easy access to valuables and influence of social media sometimes lead to impulsive acts by minors.

Investigation is continuing to ascertain if any other individuals were involved. The jewellery has been handed over to the complainant after proper documentation.