Nagaur: Security forces were deployed in Jodhiyasi village of Rajasthan’s Nagaur district on Tuesday after tensions escalated over the installation of a statue of Maharaja Surajmal at a public square. The long-running dispute turned violent around 1:30 pm when two groups clashed as one faction attempted to put up a tent at the contested location.
Despite police presence, stone pelting broke out, prompting personnel to intervene and disperse the crowds. According to officials, reinforcements were quickly sent to the location, and police teams from nine stations were mobilised alongside units of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) and the Quick Response Team (QRT). The confrontation occurred near the bus stand intersection, where the statue was erected late on Monday night without full administrative approval.
Authorities said the conflict has been simmering for nearly a year. The initial proposal involved installing three statues—of Lord Parshuram, Maharana Pratap and Maharaja Surajmal—at designated points in the village. However, tensions rose when one group independently installed the Maharaja Surajmal statue at the disputed site during the night. By early Tuesday morning, both sides had begun sit-ins, marking the start of a day-long standoff.
One group has stated that while they do not oppose the statue itself, they object to placing it at the public square, which houses government offices and the village bus stand. They argue that the area is already congested and that relocating the statue would avoid additional inconvenience. “This area already faces parking issues. Installing the statue elsewhere in the village would avoid inconvenience,” said resident Karan Singh.
The group also accused Sarpanch Kamala Mund and her representative Dayalram Mund of encouraging the installation at the contested location. They alleged that the move was made unilaterally and without consensus from the wider village community.
The opposing faction, however, maintains that the statue’s installation follows established procedures. According to Sarpanch representative Dayalram Mund, the Gram Sabha had already passed a resolution permitting installation of the statue at the square as part of village beautification efforts. He said the proposal had been approved by the District Collector and forwarded to the Divisional Commissioner, although the final permission had not yet been issued.
Tensions heightened in the afternoon when the group that installed the statue attempted to erect additional tents at the location, prompting objections from the other side. As police tried to mediate, tempers flared and both groups began throwing stones, further escalating the situation.
District Collector Arun Kumar Purohit said senior district officials, including the Additional District Collector, Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Additional Superintendent of Police, were present at the scene throughout the day to supervise the situation and oversee crowd control. The collector confirmed that the situation was eventually brought under control, though concerns remain over potential flare-ups if the dispute is not resolved.
Purohit said efforts are underway to bring both sides to a mutually acceptable solution. However, he noted that discussions held so far have not yielded a consensus. Officials are continuing negotiations to ease tensions and prevent further violence, emphasising that administrative protocols must be followed before any public installation can be finalised.
The statue remains at the site, but its future placement is expected to depend on the outcome of ongoing talks and the final administrative approvals. Authorities have urged villagers to maintain peace and await an official resolution in accordance with legal and procedural norms.
