A young man walked into the Balaji temple at Ramlila Maidan in Piprai town of Madhya Pradesh's Ashoknagar district on Saturday evening, damaged the idol inside and assaulted devotees who tried to stop him, setting off hours of unrest in the area.
Attack unfolded during a religious reading
According to police, the accused, identified as Neelesh Lodhi, a resident of Lidhaura, entered the temple while a religious reading was underway inside. He damaged the idol installed at the shrine. When people present tried to stop him, he attacked them. Nitesh Jain suffered a head injury in the scuffle, while the complainant, Badal Singh Yadav, was hurt on his left hand. Those present at the temple soon overpowered Neelesh and alerted the police. Piprai police rushed to the spot, arrested the accused and took him to the police station.
Administration bulldozes part of accused's house
News of the incident triggered widespread anger among locals. Amid the outrage, the administration demolished the portion of Neelesh's house that had been illegally built on government land, bringing down roughly half the structure. The revenue department carried out the demolition in the presence of police personnel, with officials saying the action followed an on-site inspection and a check of revenue records. Angry residents also blocked the road for nearly three to four hours in protest.
Belongings dragged out and set on fire
During the protest, demonstrators demanded that the damaged idol be removed and a new Balaji idol installed in its place. They also demanded an FIR against the accused's family. In the heat of the moment, some people entered Neelesh's house, pulled out his belongings and set them ablaze. Protesters further demanded that the administration act against any other illegal construction found near the accused's house or in the surrounding area. Tension and the road blockade continued late into the night, leaving ordinary commuters stranded.
Serious charges filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
Police have booked Neelesh Lodhi under several serious sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for damaging a religious idol and assaulting devotees inside the temple. Officials said additional charges could be added depending on how the investigation progresses.
Police probing the motive behind the attack
Investigators are now trying to establish why Neelesh damaged the idol and whether anyone else was involved in the incident. His statements are being examined as part of the probe. Police said every fact and piece of evidence is being carefully verified before any conclusion is drawn.
Police appeal for calm, warn against rumours
Police have appealed to residents not to spread rumours or unverified information about the incident. People have also been advised against sharing inflammatory or misleading content on social media. Officials urged locals to cooperate with the police and administration rather than take the law into their own hands, so that peace can be restored in the area.
