Ken-Betwa Protest Leader Divya Ahirwar Released After 40 Days in Jail

Divya Ahirwar released after 40 days in jail; questions raised over police action

Divya Ahirwar, a prominent face of the movement against the Ken-Betwa Link Project, has been released from jail after spending 40 days behind bars. Her release followed a bail order from the Madhya Pradesh High Court on 7 November.

Police had registered a serious case against Divya, accusing her of attempting to kill a constable. However, questions are now being raised over the police action and the First Information Report, or FIR, filed in the case.

The dispute centres on an incident that took place in Banhari village on 28 September. The events of that day led to Divya’s arrest and imprisonment. The police described the incident as an attempt to carry out a fatal attack on a constable, while people associated with the movement have challenged that account.

What happened in Banhari village on 28 September?

The incident began during the protest against the Ken-Betwa Link Project. A confrontation-like situation developed between the people taking part in the movement and the police-administration in Banhari village on 28 September.

After the incident, police registered a case against Divya Ahirwar for the alleged attempt to kill a constable. She was arrested and sent to jail.

The manner in which the allegation of a life-threatening attack on the constable was recorded in the police FIR has now become the central issue in the case. Movement activists say that what happened at the spot was different from the version recorded by the police.

They have questioned whether the events were accurately described in the FIR and whether the allegation against Divya was supported by the facts available at the scene.

Lawyer challenges police version in court

During the hearing on Divya’s bail plea, her lawyer argued before the court that the police had registered the case on the basis of false facts.

Amit Bhatnagar, who has been participating in the movement against the Ken-Betwa Project, has also questioned the police action. He challenged the police account of the incident and raised questions about the way the events in Banhari village were presented in the case.

The questions raised by Divya’s lawyer and by the movement have brought the police FIR under scrutiny. The dispute is focused on the allegation that the constable was attacked and on whether the incident was recorded correctly.

SDM’s statement raises more questions

The statement of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, or SDM, who was present at the spot has become an important part of the discussion.

In a conversation, the SDM said, “There was no incident like an attack.”

This statement is significant because the case registered against Divya includes the allegation that an attempt was made to kill a constable. The SDM’s description of the incident and the allegation recorded by the police appear to differ, leading to further questions about what happened at the spot.

The issue has also raised questions about the basis on which the allegation was made, the manner in which the police described the incident and the difference between the statement of the administrative officer present there and the police version.

Case now goes beyond arrest

Divya’s release after 40 days in jail has brought the entire episode back into focus. Several questions are now being discussed: What exactly happened in Banhari village on 28 September? Did the police record the events correctly in the FIR? On what facts was the allegation of an attack on the constable based? And why is there a difference between the statement of the administrative officer present at the spot and the allegations made by the police?

For now, Divya is outside jail after receiving bail from the Madhya Pradesh High Court on 7 November. However, the case linked to the protest against the Ken-Betwa Project is no longer limited to the movement and Divya’s arrest.

The police action, the FIR and the statements of officials present at the location are also being questioned. The incident in Banhari village on 28 September has left several issues unresolved. Their answers will emerge through the investigation and the evidence available in the case.