An attack on a revenue team during land demarcation in Bhaklay village of Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district has triggered a Special Investigation Team probe, with eight of 14 identified suspects arrested and an attempt-to-murder charge added to the case, police said.
The incident took place on October 24 under the Mandleshwar police station area when revenue officials were carrying out land demarcation work. Revenue inspector Abhishek Jamra and patwari Raja Kumar were injured in the attack and were referred to Indore after receiving primary treatment, according to the police.
Khargone Superintendent of Police Ravindra Verma said the SIT had been constituted to investigate the incident. The team will be headed by the sub-divisional officer of police at Mandleshwar. Police have identified 14 suspects in connection with the attack and arrested eight of them, while efforts to investigate the remaining suspects are continuing, the report said.
The case has also been altered to include an attempt-to-murder charge. The injured revenue inspector, Abhishek Jamra, is president of the Khargone district unit of the Revenue Inspectors’ Association. The attack has brought renewed attention to the risks faced by revenue personnel who conduct land surveys, demarcation and other field-based administrative work.
On Tuesday, patwaris submitted memorandums to the Khargone collector and the superintendent of police seeking stronger protection for field staff. Their demands included security during field duties, fixed working hours and exemption for women employees from late-night assignments. They also sought resolution of technical problems affecting departmental portals, which are used in routine revenue administration.
The employees warned that they could begin an agitation if their demands were not addressed. Their memorandum links the incident to a wider set of operational concerns involving staff safety, working-hour arrangements and digital systems used by the department.
Land demarcation is a routine but sensitive function of the revenue administration, particularly where boundaries, records or claims over land are involved. The incident occurred while officials were performing that function in Bhaklay village. The police investigation and the SIT’s findings will determine the circumstances of the attack and the role of the identified suspects.
The immediate administrative response now includes the SIT investigation, arrests and the additional criminal charge. Revenue employees’ demands for security and other workplace measures have been submitted to the collector and the SP, while the staff association has warned of further action if those issues remain unresolved.
