A routine business morning in Jabalpur turned into a devastating tragedy when a demolition drive claimed the life of a local trader in the Bargi locality. What began with the arrival of two bulldozers ended with a 39-year-old cloth merchant losing his life and a marketplace shaken by grief and anger.
Manoj Aggarwal, 37, and his elder brother Mintu Aggarwal, 39, were preparing to open their cloth shop when revenue officials, accompanied by police personnel, arrived at their doorstep. Without much warning, they were given just ten minutes to vacate the premises. The sudden ultimatum left the brothers stunned.
“We were never informed. Please give us at least two hours,” Manoj reportedly pleaded with the officials as confusion and panic began to spread.
As the situation escalated, the property owner reached the spot carrying documents. His wife presented what she claimed was a valid stay order issued by the Madhya Pradesh High Court. She insisted that the shop had been in their possession for nearly four decades and pointed out that the demolition notice was allegedly addressed to someone else, not the actual owner.
Eyewitnesses say the revenue official briefly examined the documents but remained unconvinced. Despite repeated appeals and reference to the court stay, the demolition process was not halted. Instead, officials reportedly began counting down the final minutes for evacuation — “five minutes… two minutes…”
Amid the frantic effort to move goods and salvage whatever they could, tragedy struck. Mintu, who was helping shift merchandise along with staff members, suddenly collapsed. Panic replaced protest as he was rushed to a nearby hospital. Doctors later declared him dead due to cardiac arrest.
By the time the family received the devastating news, the shop had already been reduced to rubble.
The incident sent shockwaves through the trading community in Bargi. Enraged traders and local residents gathered in large numbers. In a dramatic protest, they carried Mintu’s body to the local police station, demanding that an FIR be registered against the officials involved. They accused the administration of acting in haste and called for charges of culpable homicide. The protesters also demanded compensation of ₹10 lakh for the bereaved family.
Tension gripped the area for several hours as emotions ran high. Authorities eventually assured the crowd that the matter would be investigated. Following these assurances, the protest subsided late at night.
The incident has now raised serious questions about due process and administrative accountability during demolition drives. Was prior notice properly served? Was the claimed High Court stay thoroughly verified? Could officials have paused the action until legal clarity was established? These are questions that many in the community are asking.
For the Aggarwal family, however, the legal debate offers little comfort. They have lost a husband, a brother, and the primary breadwinner of their household. What remains is grief, uncertainty, and a demand for justice.
While investigations may take their course, the events of that morning have left a lasting scar on Bargi’s business community. A structure can be rebuilt over time. A life cannot.