Chhattisgarh govt suspends SDM in Balrampur tribal man's death case

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh govt on Wednesday suspended Balrampur's Kusmi sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Karun Dahariya in connection with the alleged assault that led to the death of a tribal man, two days after the officer was arrested and remanded to jail in the same case.The order said Dahariya will remain attached to the Surguja divisional commissioner’s office in Ambikapur during the suspension period.The suspension follows the Feb 15–16 night incident in Hanspur village of Kusmi block, where Dahariya and three civilians accompanying him allegedly intercepted three villagers returning from their fields and assaulted them on suspicion of illegal bauxite mining. The victims — Ram Naresh Ram (60/62), Ajit Oraon (60) and Akash Agariya (20) — were taken to the Kusmi community health centre, where Ram Naresh later died during treatment.Based on statements of the injured survivors, police registered a case at Rajpur police station against Dahariya and three associates. The case also triggered political and community mobilisation in Kusmi. Local sources said the victim’s body was handed over late on Tuesday after a day of protest by the Sarv Adivasi Samaj and the Congress. The cremation was conducted the same night, as the body had begun decomposing, they said. The two other victims continue to undergo treatment at the Kusmi health facility.