State govt’s seriousness ends three-day-long standoff

Jaipur: In an exemplary display of foresight and handling of challenging situations, on Wednesday, the state government rushed Anand Kumar, the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Home Department, and Additional Director General (Law and Order) Vishal Bansal to Udaipur to personally intervene in the escalating law and order situation owing to the dispute between two segments of the royal family. This marks the first time in recent years that senior officers were dispatched to the field to manage a law and order crisis in the state. Kumar and Bansal arrived in Udaipur by plane early on Wednesday morning to address the situation, which had been deteriorating for the past three days due to a public dispute within the royal family.

Thanks to their timely intervention and efforts throughout the day, the situation was controlled by evening. The dispute, which had spilled onto the streets, was resolved, and the traditional ‘Dhuni Darshan’ ceremony took place peacefully later that day, providing muchneeded relief to the city.

The law and order situation in Udaipur had worsened rapidly over the past few days, with the royal family’s internal dispute drawing in the public and sparking violent protests. Markets were shut, and the city came to a standstill. As the unrest grew, it became clear to the state’s leadership in Jaipur that local police were struggling to regain control. In response, the government acted swiftly, dispatching ACS Home Anand Kumar to Udaipur without delay.

With the DGP, U.R. Sahoo, occupied with preparations for the upcoming DGP conference in Bhubaneswar, the government also sent ADG Law & Order, Vishal Bansal, to Udaipur along with Kumar to oversee the situation.

Upon arrival, both officers focused on reinforcing the police presence in the most volatile areas, particularly Samore Bagh Road and the route leading to the City Palace. They closely monitored police arrangements and extensively consulted with both factions involved in the royal family dispute. Udaipur District Collector Arvind Poswal, a seasoned administrator with extensive experience, played a crucial role in assisting the senior officers throughout the day.

Though Poswal, a competent officer, had been working to resolve the issue, the state govt decided to send senior officers from Jaipur to prevent further escalation. In recent years, law & order incidents have typically been managed by local officers, such as Divisional Commissioners, IG, SP, or Collector, without ACS Home involvement. This situation required a more hands-on approach to prevent the unrest escalating.