Kabirdham, Chhattisgarh: In the high-profile Loharidih murder case, where the village's deputy sarpanch, Raghunath Sahu, was killed and properties set on fire, a total of 166 people were charged across five separate FIRs. More than 60 individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Bail Granted to 23 Accused

Out of the accused, 23 individuals have been granted bail by the Additional Sessions Judge's court in four of the cases, due to lack of sufficient evidence against them. However, they are still being held in custody in connection with a fifth case, which involves charges related to police misconduct.

Ongoing Investigation

The authorities continue to investigate the case, and while bail has been granted to many, the legal proceedings are still underway. The remaining accused in the fifth case are likely to remain in jail until further developments. The investigation is being closely monitored as the case has drawn significant attention in the region.

What is the Loharidih Incident?

On September 14, 2024, in the Madhya Pradesh border region, Shiv Prasad, also known as Kachru Sahu, the head of the local community, was found murdered and hanged. Initially, the police labeled his death as a suicide. This claim led to anger among the villagers, who suspected foul play. In retaliation, the villagers attacked the village's deputy sarpanch, Raghunath Sahu, and set his house on fire. Tragically, Raghunath Sahu died in the fire.

After the incident, when the police arrived at the scene, they were blocked from entering the village by the enraged locals. The situation escalated as villagers began throwing stones at the police. Eventually, with additional force, the police entered the village and arrested 69 individuals. In connection with the incident, the police registered five FIRs against 169 people. However, evidence was not found against 23 of the accused in the charges related to murder and arson, and they are set to be released.