Violence erupted in Madhya Pradesh’s Datia after supporters of former Home Minister Narottam Mishra staged a massive protest against the BJP’s decision to deny him a ticket for the upcoming Assembly by-election. The agitation brought National Highway-44 to a standstill for nearly 11 hours, triggering chaos across multiple districts and leaving eight police personnel injured.
Protest Over BJP Candidate Sparks Major Highway Blockade
The demonstration began on Friday evening after the BJP named Ashutosh Tiwari as its candidate for the Datia Assembly bypoll instead of Narottam Mishra. Protesters blocked NH-44, leading to a traffic gridlock stretching nearly 20–25 kilometres.
The disruption affected Datia, Gwalior, Shivpuri and neighbouring Jhansi district in Uttar Pradesh. Hundreds of vehicles, including buses and ambulances, remained stranded for several hours as authorities struggled to restore normal movement.
Police and Protesters Clash
District Magistrate Swapnil Wankhede said officials spent the entire night trying to persuade protesters to end the blockade peacefully. However, the situation deteriorated in the early hours of Saturday when protesters allegedly began pelting stones at police personnel.
Police responded by using tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. According to officials, protesters later moved inside a nearby office building and allegedly continued throwing stones from there, escalating the confrontation.
Senior Officers Among Those Injured
Eight police personnel sustained injuries during the violence, including senior officers. Officials said the Sub-Divisional Police Officer suffered a serious hand injury, while the Superintendent of Police, Additional Superintendent of Police and District Magistrate also received injuries during the operation.
Authorities also reported damage to several police vehicles and trucks after protesters allegedly vandalised property during the clashes.
District Magistrate Swapnil Wankhede said, “We made every effort to handle the situation peacefully. We did not resort to a lathi-charge. Tear gas was used only after repeated attempts at dialogue failed and stone-pelting began.”
Police Begin Action Against Protesters
Datia Superintendent of Police Mayur Khandelwal said the administration repeatedly appealed to protesters to withdraw the blockade but failed to reach an agreement.
He alleged that more than 3,000 people participated in the agitation and that stone-pelting intensified after police attempted to clear the highway. Several people have been taken into custody, while further legal action is underway.
Police have also warned that strict action will be taken against those involved in violence and destruction of public property.
Datia Bypoll Scheduled for July 30
The political unrest comes just after the Election Commission announced the Datia Assembly by-election, with polling scheduled for July 30 and counting on August 3.
The seat fell vacant after the disqualification of Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti following his conviction in a fraud case. The BJP has fielded Ashutosh Tiwari, replacing Narottam Mishra, a move that triggered protests from Mishra’s supporters.
Q1. Why did Narottam Mishra’s supporters protest in Datia?
They protested after the BJP denied Narottam Mishra a ticket for the Datia Assembly by-election and instead nominated Ashutosh Tiwari.
Q2. How many police personnel were injured during the protest?
Eight police personnel, including senior officers, were injured in the clashes.
Q3. How long was NH-44 blocked?
The highway remained blocked for nearly 11 hours, causing major traffic disruption across four districts.
Q4. When is the Datia Assembly by-election?
The Election Commission has scheduled polling for July 30, while counting of votes will take place on August 3.
