Clashes between two groups followed by stone pelting, vehicles vandalized on Bhopal-Indore highway

Violence erupted in Ashtha, Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh on Sunday night after a clash between two communities. Several vehicles were vandalized on the Bhopal-Indore state highway, leading to tension in the area. Following the incident, Karni Sena activists blocked the Bhopal-Indore highway. The situation is now under control after police took charge, and traffic has returned to normal.

According to reports, a verbal altercation between two communities took place near Ali Pur Chowraha on the old Bhopal-Indore road in Ashtha around 9 pm on Sunday. The situation quickly escalated into stone-pelting. Several vehicles parked and passing by on the road near the rest house at Parvati Pul were vandalized, causing chaos. After the incident, Karni Sena activists blocked the Bhopal-Indore highway at the Choupati area. The traffic jam worsened as vehicles arrived from both Harda and Kannauj sides, causing inconvenience to passengers.

As the situation deteriorated, police from Parvati and Ashtha police stations reached the spot. To control the crowd, police used tear gas and mild force. Additional police force was called in. SDOP Akash Sambhalkar and SDM Nitan Kumar Tale reached the spot and brought the situation under control. Police used tear gas and lathi charge to disperse the crowd. A large police force has been deployed in the area.

Meanwhile, Karni Sena national president Jeevan Sher Pur released a statement, saying that the clash in Ashtha was a conspiracy and an attempt to defame the organization's movement. He appealed to the activists to stay away from the clash, return home, and not participate in any kind of violence. After police and administrative persuasion, the blockade was removed from the highway. A large police force has been deployed, and officers are keeping a close watch. Traffic on the Bhopal-Indore highway was restored around 10:45 pm, and it is now running normally.

Police said that an assessment of the damage caused by vandalism is being made, and an investigation into the clash is underway. The administration has appealed to people to maintain peace and avoid rumors.