Woman Police Constable Assaulted During Anti-Coal Mining Protest in Chhattisgarh

Raigarh: A disturbing incident from Chhattisgarh has exposed the violent face of mob attacks on law enforcement under the guise of protest.

During an anti–coal mining demonstration in Raigarh, a woman police constable on duty was surrounded by a group of protesters, assaulted, and subjected to physical abuse, including the tearing of her uniform. Video footage of the incident, which has since gone viral on social media, has triggered widespread outrage across the country.

Protest Turns Violent

The incident occurred on December 27 at Libra Chowk in Raigarh. Hundreds of villagers from 14 nearby villages had gathered to protest a public hearing related to coal mining activities in Dhorabhatha. As protesters intensified a road blockade, police personnel were deployed to restore traffic movement. However, the situation quickly deteriorated as protesters turned hostile, leading to violent clashes with the police.

आज पूरा प्रदेश शर्म से झुक गया,

शब्दों की मर्यादा नहीं रखता तो आज जितनी गाली दो इस निकम्मी @BJP4CGState सरकार को वो कम है 😡#Chhattisgarh #Tamnar #Adani #Raigarh #Police pic.twitter.com/pevMBCfvMm

— Mithlesh Sahu (@mithleshsahu9) January 1, 2026

“Please Let Me Go”: A Chilling Scene Caught on Camera

The video footage that surfaced from the scene has shocked viewers nationwide. The woman constable, who became isolated amid the chaos, was pushed to the ground and surrounded by protesters. Despite repeatedly pleading for mercy—folding her hands and appealing, “Please let me go, brothers”—the attackers showed no restraint.

She is heard crying and explaining that she had been deployed from another police station and had committed no personal wrongdoing. Her appeals went unheeded. The footage shows two men forcibly tearing her uniform and dragging her toward a nearby field, underscoring the brutality of the assault.

The attack, seen as a direct affront to the uniform and the rule of law, has raised serious concerns about women’s safety, mob mentality, and the erosion of fear of legal consequences.

Police Action and Larger Questions

Following the circulation of the video, Raigarh police initiated swift action and arrested two suspects identified from the footage. Reports have also emerged that another woman police officer was assaulted at the same location earlier.

Investigators noted that the attackers themselves recorded and circulated the video, a development viewed as a brazen challenge to the authority of law enforcement. Observers have pointed out that had the incident not been captured on camera, the extent of the brutality might never have come to light.

A Test for the System

While the right to protest is fundamental in a democracy, the violent humiliation and physical assault of a woman officer performing her duty raises grave questions. If law enforcement personnel themselves are unsafe, what assurances remain for ordinary citizens—particularly women?

The Raigarh incident is not merely a breakdown of law and order. It stands as a troubling reflection of a deeper moral and societal failure, demanding accountability, introspection, and decisive action to reaffirm respect for the rule of law.