Congress–BJP workers clash in Indore during protest over water contamination tragedy

Opposition Congress and ruling BJP leaders and workers clashed in Indore on Saturday during a Congress protest over the drinking water tragedy in the Bhagirathpura locality of the city, which has claimed at least 15 lives so far.

Police detained at least 45 Congress leaders and workers as a precautionary measure following the clash.

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The incident occurred when a Congress fact-finding committee, constituted to probe the water contamination tragedy, was heading to Bhagirathpura to meet the affected families.

The committee is led by former state minister Sajjan Singh Verma and includes Congress MLAs Mahesh Parmar and Pratap Grewal.

Sources said BJP workers gathered at the spot, waved black flags at the Congress delegation, and raised slogans asking them to go back. Congress workers responded with slogans of their own, leading to a tense situation.

Workers from the rival parties then clashed, scuffling with each other and hurling slippers.

Amid the commotion, police escorted members of the Congress committee and other party leaders out of Bhagirathpura and took them to the central jail.

According to Indore Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Vyas, 45 people, including 10 women, were detained as a precautionary measure and later released on bail.

The Congress, however, alleged that the police acted at the behest of the ruling BJP and prevented its leaders from meeting the affected families.