Six Bajrang Dal men get bail in Raipur mall vandalism case — and a ‘hero’s welcome’

To "celebrate" their bail, a procession was taken out by Bajrang Dal members who carried the six accused on their shoulders. (Express Photo, enhanced using AI)

Six Bajrang Dal men who were arrested for vandalising Christmas decorations at Magneto Mall in Chhattisgarh’s capital, Raipur, received a “hero’s welcome” after they were granted bail by a Sessions Court on Wednesday.

Soon after they walked out of jail in Raipur city on Thursday, Bajrang Dal members welcomed them with garlands and chants of “Raghu Pati Raghav Raja Ram”. To “celebrate” their bail, a procession was taken out by Bajrang Dal members who carried the six accused on their shoulders.

Bajrang Dal leaders did not respond to calls from The Indian Express seeking comment.

A magistrate court in Raipur had denied them bail on December 29.

On Christmas Eve, right-wing groups had called for a day-long bandh in Chhattisgarh in protest against alleged religious conversions that they claimed were taking place in the state.

The same day, a mob armed with wooden sticks barged into Magneto Mall — a popular and an old spot — and vandalised Christmas decorations and installations. The mall featured figures of Santa Claus, reindeer, sleighs and snowmen. Security guards at the mall tried to stop the mob but were overpowered.

The same night, an FIR had been registered at the Telibandha police station against 30-40 unknown men under BNS sections 331(3), 324(2), 115(2), 191(2) and 190, which pertain to trespassing, intentionally causing damage or reducing the value/utility of property to cause wrongful loss, causing hurt, rioting and unlawful assembly.

On December 27, the Telibandha police arrested the six men and apprehended a minor; the six men spent five days in jail.

Angered by the arrest, around 300 Bajrang Dal workers sat on an arterial road outside Telibandha police station and blocked traffic for nearly nine hours. No FIR has been registered in this incident.

The ‘Chhattisgarh Bandh’ on December 24, called by the Sarva Hindu Samaj, was said to have been triggered by a recent clash between two communities over the burial of a person from a converted family in Bastar region’s Kanker district.