Written by Jayprakash S NaiduUpdated: January 2, 2026 12:57 PM IST 3 min readA woman police constable was stripped and assaulted after an anti-mining protest in Raigarh turned violent, leaving police outnumbered and retreating. (Express Photo)An on-duty woman police constable was stripped by some men during an anti-mining protest that turned violent in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district.While the violence took place on December 27, a video of the assault on the police constable surfaced on social media later, and two people have been arrested in connection with the incident.Residents from 14 villages of Tamnar block in Raigarh have been protesting against a proposed coal mining project in their area. On December 27, the protest turned violent, with a huge mob of over a thousand villagers torching vehicles, assaulting police personnel, pelting stones and damaging private property.The police were outnumbered and had to retreat. In the video, the woman constable appears to have been left behind in the field, fending for herself.The video shows the constable having fallen on the ground and pleading before the two men who were tearing her clothes.The men are heard yelling at her, asking her why she came there.One of them is heard saying, “Tear her clothes. Why did you come here? Should I hit you with my slipper?”Story continues below this adThe woman is seen folding her hands and pleading with the men to let her go. With tears in her eyes, the constable says, “Brother, please let me go. I will not do anything. I did not hit anyone.”The constable is also heard saying that she was deployed there and was only discharging her duty. The men then demanded that she leave and not return.One of the men recorded the video with one hand while he was seen pulling her clothes with the other hand. He then picks up his sandal and threatens to beat her.Additional Superintendent of Police Akash Markam said two men have been arrested.Story continues below this adAlso Read | 30 policemen injured in stone pelting by villagers protesting coal miningThe blurred video was uploaded on Instagram by the All India Mahila Congress with the caption, “The video of men misbehaving with a woman constable and tearing her clothes in Raigarh of Chhattisgarh is terrifying. What will happen to common citizens when women policemen are not safe? It is clear that the double-engine BJP government has completely failed on the front of women’s security.”Since December 12, the protesting villagers made the Coal Handling Plant (CHP) chowk in Libra village their protest site and had been camping there. They also blocked roads and refused to allow mining-related vehicles to pass.Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Coal mining