Jabalpur stone-pelting: Aarti and namaz spark clashes; 15 arrested after Durga temple grill vandalised

Tension spread in the Sihora area of Jabalpur late Thursday night after a youth allegedly damaged the grill of a Durga temple, leading to clashes and stone-pelting between two groups. Police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. More than 15 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

The incident took place around 9 pm in Ward No. 5 at Azad Chowk. According to the police, aarti was being performed at the temple while namaz was underway at a mosque located opposite the shrine. During this time, a youth allegedly vandalised the temple grill, leading to an argument between members of the two communities.

VIDEO | Madhya Pradesh: Situation remains tense but under control after clashes between two groups in Jabalpur last night. Heavy police deployment in the area.#Jabalpur#MPNews#MadhyaPradeshNews (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/LrL7L126cH

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 20, 2026

Local residents claimed that the youth was assaulted after the incident. Soon after, people from both sides gathered at the spot and began pelting stones at each other. The clash allegedly continued for about 10 minutes before police reached the area.

Senior Superintendent of Police Sampat Upadhyay said teams from Sihora, Khitauli and Gosalpur police stations were immediately sent to the location. Additional police forces were also called in from Jabalpur to prevent the situation from worsening.

“An incident of stone pelting occurred in Azad chowk. Police reached the spot and controlled the crowd. More than 15 people have been arrested,” the SP said.

Police also used a few tear gas shells to disperse the crowd and restore order. Officials confirmed that additional forces have been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure.

Authorities said the situation is now under control and an investigation is underway to determine the exact sequence of events.