Violence Erupts in Neemuch: Villagers Hold Police Captive, Authorities Use Tear Gas to Disperse Mob

Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh, witnessed a violent confrontation late Wednesday night (January 22) as villagers clashed with police officers investigating a case of doda chura (poppy husk) smuggling.
The situation escalated when villagers held police personnel captive and resorted to stone-pelting. The police responded with lathi charge and tear gas to disperse the crowd and rescue their colleagues.
The incident occurred in Chaukdi village, where a police team arrived to investigate the ongoing case involving 24-year-old Nilesh, who had been arrested two days earlier with 54.3 kilograms of doda chura.
The police brought the accused back to the village to question locals as part of their investigation. Sensing tension, some officers left the village with the accused, but two police vehicles and several personnel were surrounded and held hostage by the villagers.
Upon receiving the distress call, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nawal Singh Sisodia and Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Vimlesh Uikey, along with reinforcements from multiple police stations, rushed to the spot.
The authorities urged the villagers to release the captive officers, but the situation turned hostile when villagers began pelting stones at the police. In retaliation, the police resorted to lathi charge and fired tear gas shells to control the mob.
Several officers sustained injuries during the stone-pelting, and medical aid is being provided to them. The police eventually managed to free their colleagues and retrieve the two vehicles from the villagers' control.
Villagers’ Allegations
The villagers have accused the police of falsely implicating the arrested youth in the smuggling case and alleged that officers exaggerated the quantity of the seized contraband. They also accused the police of engaging in illegal extortion under the guise of anti-narcotics operations. The villagers have demanded an impartial investigation into the case.
Police Action and Current Status
The police have filed cases against identified and unidentified individuals involved in the violence. ASP Nawal Singh Sisodia stated that strict action will be taken against those who disrupted law and order. The situation in the village is reportedly under control, and peace has been restored. This incident highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in tackling narcotics cases in rural areas while addressing public grievances and ensuring transparency in their actions.