Damage in Balodabazar arson estimated at around Rs 12 crores

Police is investigating incident closely to understand all aspects

Raipur (Team Newsbuddy): Balodabazar Collector Deepak Soni and Superintendent of Police Vijay Agrawal jointly addressed a press conference at the meeting hall of the District Joint Office . They provided crucial updates regarding the actions taken and future strategies following the arson incident at the Collectorate in Balodabazar district headquarters.

Collector Soni stated that the estimated damage from the incident amounts to nearly Rs 12 crore. This includes the District Joint Office Building, District Panchayat Office, District Election Office, Tehsil and Registration Office Building, as well as vehicles, equipment, and furniture. Assessments for other damages in the city are ongoing. “Insurance claims for vehicle damages are in progress,” he added. “Seven to eight vehicle owners have already received compensation, and 23 cases are under process.”

He further informed that around 240 private and government vehicles were affected, including 31 completely burnt four-wheelers and 60 two-wheelers, along with 27 damaged four-wheelers and 122 two-wheelers. “We are currently assessing uninsured private vehicles,” he noted. “A victim relief committee has been formed to support the affected individuals.”

He stated that a team has also been formed for document restoration and the work has commenced in the Police, Excise, District Planning, and Statistics Departments. Ongoing meetings are being held to improve law and order. The District Administration has engaged in discussions with the Chamber of Commerce, Civil Society, Non-Government Organizations, Farmers Organizations, and Petrol Pump Operators, urging their cooperation in restoring peace. They have been encouraged to install CCTV cameras with adequate capacity. Cooperation and feedback are being sought from social organizations to foster a harmonious environment in the district.

“A district-level social media monitoring team has been established,” he added. “It operates round the clock to monitor and take restrictive actions against negative and provocative posts.”

He further informed instructions have been issued to hold a peace committee meeting to ensure and maintain peace. Directives are issued to provide lists of rented houses and shops to the nearest police station, and lists of contract workers to the relevant departments. A meeting with field officials, secretaries, patwaris, RIs (Revenue Inspectors), and sarpanches will soon be organized to address these issues.

Superintendent of Police Vijay Agrawal provided details on investigative efforts stating “Comprehensive inquiries are underway to understand all aspects of the incident. So far, 138 individuals have been detained. The social media monitoring team is actively monitoring and investigating posts, identifying their sources, and blocking relevant accounts.”