Bhopal police suspended Ratan Singh Parihar, in-charge of the Misrod police station, after a video appeared to show him allegedly using abusive language and making offensive remarks towards tribal students during a protest in the city. Police commissioner Sanjay Kumar has also ordered a departmental inquiry into the incident.
The incident took place on Tuesday during a protest organised by the youth wing of the Gondwana Gantantra Party over issues faced by tribal students, according to an official cited by PTI. Parihar was suspended on Wednesday, the official said.
A video of the protest shows participants raising the slogan “Jai Johar”, a traditional greeting used by tribal communities. The video purportedly shows the police station in-charge objecting to the slogan and using abusive language while addressing the protesting students. The allegations could not be independently established from the material supplied, and the departmental inquiry is expected to examine the circumstances shown in the video.
“The departmental inquiry will investigate the facts related to the case, and further action will be taken based on the findings,” the official said, according to PTI. The inquiry will determine what occurred during the confrontation and whether further departmental action is warranted.
The episode has raised questions about how police authorities handle protests involving students and community organisations in an urban setting. A police station is often the first point of contact between residents and the state, particularly during demonstrations involving grievances over education, rights or public administration. The suspension places the conduct of the officer and the department’s response under formal scrutiny.
The video’s circulation on social media prompted Congress leaders and tribal organisations to demand action against Parihar, PTI reported. Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Umang Singhar described the alleged remarks as serious and condemnable, and said “Johar” represented tribal culture, identity, self-respect and honour rather than abuse.
Singhar also alleged that the officer had used his position to humiliate citizens and demanded that an FIR be registered against him. His comments were made in response to the video and the reported incident; the supplied report does not state whether an FIR has been registered.
The police commissioner’s departmental inquiry is now the formal process examining the allegations. The next official action will depend on its findings, while the question of any criminal case remains unresolved in the information available.
