Tadmetla arson: Protesters disrupt CPI leader’s press conference

A leader present at the press conference said, “The protesters barged into the office and demanded that Kunjam apologise for a WhatsApp post he had sent on goddess Durga. Kunjam said the matter had been closed, and that he did not intend to insult the goddess.

But the protesters seemed bent on stalling the press conference, which was on the effigy-burning, and in which Kunjam was speaking against police atrocities. They began damaging furniture in the room. Kunjam was not personally attacked, but only after much damage was done did the police usher them out of the room. Many of the protesters were from AGNI (a pro-police group formed after the disbanding of Samajik Ekta Manch).”

Kunjam had cases filed against him in the past few weeks for allegedly objectionable posts on social media, which question the narrative of Durga and Mahisasur. This led to groups in Bastar taking sides for or against Kunjam, with the senior police leadership being present at meetings that castigated Kunjam for his views.