A protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar turned hazardous on Friday in the town of Biaora, located in Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh district. The demonstration, staged at the busy Peepal Chauraha intersection, spiralled out of control when an effigy caught fire abruptly. Youth Congress district president Aman Arora and NSUI activist Vishal Dangi suffered burns after the spreading flames reached their clothing, sparking momentary chaos and alarm among the assembled gathering.
Demonstration at Peepal Chauraha Over Electoral Roll Discrepancies
Before torching the effigy, NSUI members organised a symbolic funeral procession at Peepal Chauraha, shouting slogans against Gyanesh Kumar. The agitation stemmed from grievances over alleged irregularities and the removal of voters from electoral rolls, alongside developments related to SIR. Protesters also voiced deep anger over the detention of Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and MP Priyanka Gandhi, who were marching from Parliament House toward the Election Commission office. Despite police presence, the demonstrators managed to give officers the slip and ignited the effigy.
Clothes Catch Fire Mid-Protest and Emergency Response
As the blaze erupted, the fire caught the garments of Aman Arora and Vishal Dangi. Spotting the danger, on-duty police personnel and nearby citizens reacted swiftly, using fabric, garments, and water to extinguish the flames engulfing the two men. Following the prompt dousing of the fire, both injured individuals were rushed to a local private hospital, where medical teams admitted them for required treatment.
Fire Brigade Action and Visit by Former Legislator
Anticipating tensions around the protest, local administrative authorities had stationed a fire brigade tender at the location. As soon as the youth wing workers torched the effigy, firefighters stepped in and brought the burning structure under control. Following the news of the mishap, former MLA Ramchandra Dangi visited the hospital to inquire after the well-being of the injured workers and check on their treatment progress.
Heavy Security Mobilisation and Curbs in Delhi
While local protests flared in Biaora, tension surrounding the Chief Election Commissioner has also prompted heightened vigilance in the national capital. The opposition has adopted an aggressive stance, and CJP has called for a demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Anticipating the turnout, Delhi Police declined permission for the gathering and clamped Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita across the entire vicinity to deter unlawful assemblies.
Significant security deployments are now visible across Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, and the corridors surrounding the Election Commission headquarters. A contingent of roughly 21,000 paramilitary personnel has been deployed across Delhi to maintain order. Additionally, authorities have installed approximately 1,000 extra CCTV cameras around Jantar Mantar, linking them directly to a dedicated control room set up to monitor crowd movements continuously.
