Congress MLA Devendra Yadav, who was imprisoned in connection with the Balodabazar violence case, was given bail by the apex court on Thursday after six months. His release came a day after the Supreme Court granted him bail. Following the completion of necessary legal formalities, Yadav walked out of the Central Jail to a rousing reception from his supporters, who had gathered in large number outside the premises. Speaking to the media after his release, Yadav accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of persecuting the Satnami community. “Everyone is aware of the injustice done to the innocent people of the Satnami community. I will continue my fight for the truth,” he asserted. Following his release, Yadav and his supporters took out a celebratory procession, which caused traffic congestion on the jail road, leading to inconvenience for commuters. The police presence at the scene appeared inadequate to manage the crowd effectively.

 

The violence in Balodabazar was triggered by the vandalism of the revered Jaitkham, a religious symbol of the Satnami community, at Giraudhpuri Dham on the night of May 15-16, 2024. In response, the police arrested three persons, but their action was met with dissatisfaction from the community, which demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident. Amid rising tensions, Home Minister Vijay Sharma eventually announced an inquiry. On June 10, thousands of protestors gathered near the Collectorate to voice their anger over the desecration of Jaitkham. However, the demonstration escalated into violence, with agitators setting fire to the Collectorate and the Superintendent of Police’s office, resulting in damage to government property worth Rs 12.53 crore. Following the unrest, the administration launched a crackdown, arresting 187 persons in 43 cases related to the violence.