What exactly happened in the clash between UP Police and Radha Soami Satsang supporters in Agra?
The clash between the police and supporters of Radha Soami Satsang in Agra took place on Sunday (September 24). Photo: Twitter/
In Agra's Dayalbagh area, a clash erupted between the supporters of Radha Soami Satsang, a religious sect in Uttar Pradesh, and the police on Sunday, September 24. The supporters threw stones at the police, resulting in injuries to at least 30 people, including 10 police officers, a journalist, and a woman.
How did the disturbance begin?
Radha Soami Satsang had been given an ultimatum until Friday, September 22, to vacate the government land they had illegally occupied. When they did not comply with the orders, the police initiated an anti-encroachment operation on Saturday.
On Saturday, the police bulldozed walls and gates constructed by the followers outside their ashram in Dayalbagh, which constituted encroachment on public property.
The trouble began on Sunday at 4:30 pm when Agra District Magistrate Bhanu Chandra Goswami dispatched a police team to the site where illegal structures had been demolished. However, the police discovered that the gate and wall had been rebuilt by the followers.
अतिक्रमण हटाने गई टीम पर पथराव, कई पुलिसकर्मी घायल
— AajTak (@aajtak) September 25, 2023
आगरा में उपद्रवियों पर पुलिस का लाठीचार्ज
ज्यादा जानकारी दे रही हैं आजतक संवाददाता @Sreya_Chattrjee#Agra #AgraViolence #Police @nehabatham03 pic.twitter.com/SG3WXPI7Gt
According to a report by The Indian Express, the followers strategically positioned women with children on their laps behind the reconstructed gate and wall. When the police attempted to remove them from the site, they faced a barrage of stones and sticks. At the time of the attack, there were around 200 dera supporters, outnumbering the police.
The police resorted to a lathi-charge, further aggravating local residents. During the stone pelting, a member of the media also sustained injuries and was rushed to SN Medical College.
DCP Suraj Kumar stated, "The Revenue department had requested the deployment of police force to remove encroachments in Dayalbagh by Radha Soami Satsang Sabha. Sabha members obstructed the eviction and engaged in stone pelting, resulting in numerous police injuries. For now, the demolition drive has been halted," as quoted by The Times of India.
Social media backlash
Social media platforms were inundated with images and videos from the incident site. Many people expressed outrage at the Satsang supporters for using spiked clubs to attack the police. These spiked clubs were also employed by Chinese soldiers in the Galwan Valley incident in May 2020 when they clashed with Indian army soldiers.
The Chinese had used similar batons ( naiIs embedded) against the Indian Army in Galwan Valley.
— زماں (@Delhiite_) September 24, 2023
Today Agra Police got this batons from Radha Swami satsangis.
- many police personnel were injured pic.twitter.com/GPLmnZphOd
Government action
Thus far, no action has been taken against the Satsang supporters involved in the clash with the police. However, Agra Commissioner Ritu Maheshwari has instructed a senior official to verify land revenue records to determine the actual area legally possessed by the Sabha.
"We have given a 24-hour ultimatum to the followers to vacate the encroached land, and we will take action if the orders are not followed. No one will be permitted to take the law into their own hands," The Indian Express quoted Ritu Maheshwari as saying.
Who are the Radha Soami Satsang group?
The Radha Soami Satsang is a religious sect in India with followers from both Hindu and Sikh communities. It was founded in 1861 by Shiva Dayal Saheb, a Hindu banker from Agra.
The term "Radha Soami" signifies the reunion of the soul with God. After the death of Shiva Dayal Saheb, the group split into two sects. The main branch of the group remained in Agra.
The other sect was established by a Sikh disciple of Shiva Dayal Saheb known as Jaimal Singh. The members of this latter group are referred to as "Radha Soami of Beas" because they have their headquarters on the banks of the Beas River near Amritsar.
Though the second sect, Radha Soami of Beas in Punjab, claims to be apolitical, several politicians, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have met its chief, Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon. Prior to the Punjab elections in 2022, several politicians had consultations with the Dera chief.
The dera primarily garners support from Hindu and Sikh followers, with a significant number belonging to the Scheduled Caste and the OBC community.