Road dispute turned violent on June 7, Bolero driver ran over 24-year-old Chandramani Ratre; two arrested, one a minor

A 24-year-old man was run over by occupants of a Bolero during a road dispute in Korba on the night of June 7 and died in a Raipur private hospital six days later, police and family sources said on Sunday.

According to officials, the victim was identified as Chandramani Ratre, a resident of Pantora village in Janjgir-Champa district and the son of ASI Ramnarayan Ratre of the traffic police. Initial reports indicate the incident began on the Budhwari bypass road in Korba late on June 7 when occupants of a Bolero allegedly created a disturbance on the road.

What happened
Sources familiar with the case said Chandramani was travelling in a car with friends when the Bolero party demanded right of way. A heated argument reportedly followed. As Chandramani stepped out of the car, the Bolero accelerated and struck him, leaving him critically injured.

“After being hit, Chandramani was taken to a private hospital in Korba,” a local police officer said. “His condition remained critical and he was later shifted to Raipur for advanced treatment, where he succumbed to injuries on June 13.”

Companion attacked, robbed
Two of Chandramani’s companions, identified as Arvind Rathore and Sahil Nirmalkar, chased the Bolero on a scooter, police said. They were allegedly intercepted by the attackers. Arvind suffered multiple injuries to his hands, face and body after being beaten, according to those close to the family. He was reportedly dumped by the attackers on the roadside, who later fled the scene.

Family members told reporters the assailants looted Arvind during the attack, taking around Rs 1 lakh in cash, an iPhone and gold jewellery including a ring and a chain. Police recovered the victim’s abandoned car three days after the incident.

CCTV footage emerges
Local sources said a CCTV clip of the incident has surfaced and is with investigators. “The footage is being examined for identification of other suspects and to corroborate witness statements,” a senior officer in Korba’s police administration said, requesting anonymity.

Arrests and probe
Korba police have arrested two suspects, one of whom is a juvenile. The arrested adult has been named as Kapil Kumar Sarathi of Katghora, officials said. Both are being questioned; probes are continuing into charges that include murder, kidnapping and robbery.

“Investigation is on multiple angles,” the Korba police official said. “We are tracking down other accused seen in the CCTV and those who fled after the incident.”

Local reaction
News of Chandramani’s death triggered anger in parts of the city and in his native village. His last rites were held in Pantora village. Social groups and friends staged demonstrations and demanded swift arrests and stringent punishment for the culprits.

“People are shocked and upset. This was a brutal act over a trivial road dispute,” a relative said. Community leaders called for heightened patrolling and immediate action by authorities to restore a sense of safety.

Background and context
Road rage incidents involving SUVs and light commercial vehicles have drawn attention across several central Indian towns in recent years, raising concerns about reckless driving and mob violence. Police sources said investigators are examining whether alcohol, prior altercations, or communal links played any part in the Korba episode.

What’s next
Police said medical reports and the CCTV are being used to strengthen the charges. Further arrests are expected as more witnesses come forward, the official added. The juvenile suspect will be dealt with under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, while the adult suspect faces prosecution under Indian Penal Code sections for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, robbery and kidnapping, pending legal advice.

For now, the case has stirred local outrage and renewed calls for stricter enforcement against road-side vigilantism and violent reprisals.

Madhya Pradesh HC recognises Bhojshala as Vagdevi temple; devotees hold prayers

High Court partly quashes 2003 ASI order, Hindu groups regain right to worship at Bhojshala; Hanuman Chalisa recited after verdict

The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Saturday recognised the disputed Bhojshala–Kamal Maula complex in Dhar as the temple of Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati) dating to the Bhoj-Parmar era, and granted the Hindu side the right to worship at the site, leading to early-morning prayers and celebrations by devotees.

Verdict and immediate response
According to court records made public on Saturday, the bench based its ruling on historical material indicating the site’s origin in the period of King Bhoj of the Bhoj-Parmar dynasty. The court also partially quashed an April 7, 2003, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) order that had permitted the Muslim community to offer namaz at the site for a fixed period on Fridays, lawyers involved in the case said.

Following the verdict, office-bearers and members of local Bhojshala committees reached the complex in Dhar on Saturday morning under tight security. “All office bearers reached near the Yagya Kund, had darshan and recited the Hanuman Chalisa,” an organiser said. Committee convener Gopal Sharma and other officials offered flowers and performed rituals at the sanctum sanctorum of Maa Vagdevi. Officials also distributed sweets to mark the development.

Legal and administrative notes
ASI lawyer Aviral Vikas Khare told reporters the monument’s protected status remains intact. The ASI has maintained Bhojshala as a protected monument since 1904, and the court reiterated that complete administration, regulation and supervision of the structure will continue to rest solely with the ASI, the lawyer said.

Hindu counsel Vishnu Shankar Jain, who represented petitioners seeking worship rights, welcomed the judgment. He said the court had partially stayed the 2003 ASI direction and recognised the site as a temple, thereby restoring worship rights. Jain added that the court considered a demand to return an original idol of Vagdevi currently held in a museum in London, though he did not detail the bench’s direction on that specific point.

Ground-level scene
Local residents and pilgrims described a calm, orderly atmosphere at the heritage complex in the late morning. Devotees said they finally had an opportunity to perform rituals without restrictions. “Every particle of Bhojshala indicates that it is a temple,” Gopal Sharma told reporters after performing darshan near the Yagya Kund.

Security and civic monitoring
Dhar city authorities mounted tight security around the Bhojshala complex on Saturday, with local police and district officials monitoring the situation, officials said. Sources familiar with administration plans said additional deployments remained in place to pre-empt any untoward incidents and to ensure peaceful observance by both communities.

Potential Supreme Court action
While celebrations took place among Hindu groups, legal counsels on both sides signalled the possibility of further litigation. The Hindu side has filed two caveat petitions in the Supreme Court, anticipating challenges by the Muslim side, Vishnu Shankar Jain said. There was no immediate confirmation from lawyers representing the Muslim side about whether they would seek a review or approach the apex court.

Historical context
Bhojshala, located in Dhar district, is a complex of medieval structures long associated with King Bhoj (11th–12th century) and has been at the centre of competing claims over religious use. The site has attracted attention from historians and archaeologists for inscriptions and carvings linked to Sanskrit learning and temple architecture, while also being used for religious activities by multiple communities over decades.

Public reaction and outlook
Local civic leaders urged calm and respect for the ASI’s administrative role. “The court has set the legal position today; administration will continue under ASI,” an assistant district magistrate said. Officials said they would hold meetings in coming days with community representatives to ensure worship and access proceed without friction.

For now, the most visible change is at the ground level: devotees offering prayers, rituals conducted peacefully, and the recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa in the complex stands as the immediate public expression of the court’s ruling. How the decision evolves through further appeals or administrative directions will determine the long-term status of Bhojshala.

MP High Court Recognises Bhojshala as Vagdevi Temple, Quashes 2003 Restrictions on Hindu Worship

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday delivered a landmark verdict recognising the centuries-old Bhojshala complex in Dhar as a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, commonly referred to as Vagdevi. The ruling effectively sets aside two decades of administrative arrangements that had allowed dual worship at the disputed site.

A division bench hearing five consolidated petitions concluded that archaeological evidence, historical records, and the Archaeological Survey of India's survey report collectively establish the religious character of the structure as a Hindu temple. The Court explicitly rejected the ASI's 2003 order that had denied Hindus the right to worship at the site.

Court Relies on ASI Survey, Ayodhya Precedent

The bench observed that evidence of a Sanskrit learning centre and a Saraswati temple had been found within the Bhojshala complex. Citing the Supreme Court's Ayodhya judgment, the High Court noted that every government bears responsibility for protecting ancient monuments of archaeological significance, including sanctums and idols associated with religious faith.

According to legal news portal Bar and Bench, the Court directed the Central government and the ASI to determine management protocols for the temple complex while maintaining its protected status under the 1958 Act.

Muslim Side Asked to Seek Separate Land

The verdict also quashed an earlier order that had granted Muslims the right to offer namaz at the complex. Dhar Shahar Qazi Waqar Sadiq told reporters that the Muslim side respects the judgment but will challenge it before the Supreme Court.

"We will review the detailed judgment and then approach the Supreme Court," Sadiq said. Senior advocates Salman Khurshid and Shobha Menon had represented the Muslim community during the hearings.

The Court has advised the Muslim side to request the government for alternative land to construct a mosque.

Heavy Security in Place Across Dhar

Administration officials moved quickly to prevent any law and order situation following the verdict. Dhar Collector Rajiv Ranjan Meena and Superintendent of Police Sachin Sharma inspected security arrangements inside the Bhojshala complex late Friday afternoon.

Around 1,200 police personnel from across the district have been deployed in Dhar city. Security has been organised in 12 layers, officials said. The Rapid Action Force and reserve police contingents remain on alert. Police also conducted flag marches through sensitive areas.

The Bhojshala complex remains sealed with barricades at the main gate, with a heavy police presence outside.

Background of the Long-Running Dispute

Since 2003, Hindus had been permitted to worship at the site every Tuesday and on Vasant Panchami, while Muslims were allowed to offer namaz on Fridays. The complex remained open to tourists on other days.

Tensions had flared in 2013 and 2016 when Vasant Panchami celebrations coincided with Friday prayers. The petitions before the High Court were originally filed in 2022 by Ranjana Agnihotri and others from Hindu Front for Justice, seeking determination of the site's religious character and full worship rights for the Hindu community.

The ASI conducted a 98-day scientific survey of the complex in 2024. In January 2026, the Supreme Court had permitted day-long worship on Vasant Panchami.

What Happens Next

The Hindu side has welcomed the verdict as historic. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain said the Court has also directed the government to consider the Hindu community's request for repatriation of a Goddess Vagdevi idol currently housed in the British Museum.

The Muslim side is expected to file a Supreme Court appeal in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the administration has indicated it will maintain the current security posture until tensions ease.