Woman Explodes at Collector During Public Hearing in Bhopal

Bhopal:
A dramatic scene unfolded during a public grievance hearing in the state capital when a woman openly confronted Additional Collector Ankur Meshram, accusing officials of ignoring her complaint filed three months ago. Frustrated and emotional, the woman lashed out, saying:
“If you cannot listen to the public, vacate the chair. I will sit there and hear people’s problems myself.”
Her remarks created uproar inside the hall, leaving officials and attendees stunned.

Hearing Underway Since Morning

The incident occurred on Tuesday during the Collector’s weekly public hearing. Officials had been hearing grievances since 10:30 AM. Around 12:45 PM, the woman arrived with her 11-year-old daughter and raised a loud protest while explaining her issue.

When ADM Meshram attempted to offer a solution, she became even more agitated. Even after the official hearing ended and the ADM left the venue, the woman continued her protest.
Meanwhile, officials addressed 103 applications during the session and issued instructions for swift resolution.

The Complaint: Alleged Threat Over House Dispute

The woman, a resident of Minal Colony, had filed a complaint three months earlier. She alleged that on 9 December 2022, a man named Mansharam threatened her over a property-related matter and asked her to vacate the house.

She lives with her minor daughter and said her landlord resides in Gwalior, with an 11-month rental agreement in place.
Police investigation found the issue to be a mutual dispute between the tenant and the landlord, after which preventive action was taken. However, unhappy with the lack of further progress, the woman escalated the matter at the public hearing.
ADM Meshram later stated that a fresh letter has been sent to the police seeking reinvestigation and necessary action.

Other Complaints Raised During the Hearing

Several other citizens also highlighted long-pending issues:

• Rekha Thakur, a resident of Sikandari Sarai, said she voted in 2003 but never received her voter slip despite repeated visits to government offices.
• Shameem Khan from Bag Umarav Doolha claimed his and his son’s names were removed from the voter list because he missed voting once or twice while away for work, even though he holds a valid voter ID.

Encroachment Complaint from Army Officer

Major Rohit Singh, a resident of Kolar Ward 83, reported illegal encroachment on government land adjacent to his plot. He said a shack had been built and a wood-selling business started there. Due to his postings in Delhi and Ladakh, he cannot visit frequently and urged officials to take quick action.