Bhadrak, India – Authorities announced the arrest of the key suspect linked to a violent episode that left three senior police officials seriously injured following a contentious social media post. Firdaus Khan was arrested and appeared in court on charges of inciting a mob to violence in the disrupted peace of the local community four months earlier.
The violence, which occurred on September 27, had its fuse lit by a controversial social media post that quickly spiraled out of control. Khan, residing in Nangamahala under the Puruna Bazar police jurisdiction, is alleged to have rallied people from his community to assemble unlawfully near Senthiya Bridge, leading to chaos that included road blockages and attacks on police personnel.
During the upheaval, the mob targeted government officials, torching tires and vandalizing property, which included a government vehicle belonging to Tehsildar Sangram Priyadarshi Khuntia, who was performing magistrate duties at the time. The violent actions led to considerable injuries among the law enforcement officers, including a critical head injury to ASI Rajkishore Murmu, warranting urgent hospital care.
The aftermath of the incident blanketed Bhadrak in significant disorder, triggering internet blackouts and a shutdown of shops and businesses that caused widespread public disruption. The severity of the episode pushed police to adopt stern measures to regain control, including the enforcement of Section 163 under BNSS to secure the area preliminarily.
Authorities later discovered that Khan had eluded initial capture by leaving the state. However, his attempt to secure bail for another unrelated crime at Saharanchal Police Station led to his arrest. In court proceedings, it was revealed that Khan is implicated across multiple criminal cases, with several warrants issued for his arrest by different police jurisdictions.
Following the incident, City DSP Anshuman Dwivedi and several other officers faced severe injuries. DSP Dwivedi suffered a serious leg injury, while Murmu, whose injuries were more severe, required hospitalization at Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital.
The case continues to unfold as officials piece together the series of events that led up to the violent protest. The community awaits further developments as legal proceedings could shed more light on the motivations behind the conflict and the full scope of the repercussions stemming from that tumultuous day.
The impact of the incident resonates beyond just the physical damages or injuries, pointing to deeper societal and security challenges. As the judicial process moves ahead, observers are keen to see how the local administration intends to address both the immediate fallout and the underlying tensions that may have contributed to the eruption of such destructiveness.