Factional clash at historic Kanpur Ramlila committee turns violent over office bearer selection

A bitter dispute over the selection of office bearers has engulfed the 150-year-old historic Ramlila committee in Kanpur Dehat, with the controversy escalating into verbal abuse and physical scuffles even before the religious event could begin. The conflict between two rival factions at the committee reached such intensity that the election officer Hariom Shukla and four other members resigned from their positions, and police had to intervene to restore order.

The trouble began at a general body meeting held at Janakpuri ground where a 15-member committee had been constituted under the supervision of election officer Hariom Shukla, Mahesh Agarwal, and Vipin Chandra Dixit. This committee was tasked with selecting office bearers for this year's Ramlila. However, during Sunday's meeting, deep differences emerged between the two groups over the selection process. What started as disagreements quickly turned into heated arguments, with the meeting descending into chaos as participants used abusive language and came to blows. Videos of the altercation went viral on social media.

Senior police officials rushed to the scene after receiving information about the incident and managed to calm both parties. Following the ugly confrontation, election officer Hariom Shukla and four committee members submitted their resignations, throwing the entire selection process into disarray. The committee, based in Akbarpur, organizes the annual Ramlila and Dussehra fair, events meant to foster religious faith and social unity.

The resignations have forced the committee to restart the process from scratch. A fresh general body meeting has been convened for August 24 at 11 am at Janakpuri ground to discuss the controversy and chart a new course for selecting office bearers. All eyes are now on whether the committee can resolve its internal differences and ensure the smooth conduct of the Ramlila, or whether the power struggle will deepen further and overshadow the religious tradition.