MP: Cops clamp down on 'miracle tree' frenzy, but another springs up

BHOPAL: Another ‘magical mahua tree’ has surfaced in MP, even as the administration struggles to manage the frenzy of the first one in Satpura Tiger Reserve.

The new ‘miracle tree’ apparently specializes in healing chronic backaches and spinal problems at a touch. It is in a small village in Narsinghpur district , about 50km from the original cure-all tree in Hoshangabad’s Nayagaon village, where Section 144 has been clamped following a mob attack that injured 12 policemen on Wednesday.

On Tuesday night, after two months of uncontrolled frenzy over a social-media fuelled rumour regarding its ‘divine powers’, the Hoshangabad administration barred people from getting close to the mahua tree in Nayagaon. It angered villagers, who had set up stalls near the tree in violation of environment laws, and minted crores from the 30,000-plus daily crowds in the last two months. A mob attacked cops on Wednesday, injuring 12 of them, five critically. The Hoshangabad administration then imposed Section 144 in the entire region.

Now, the Narsinghpur administration is concerned about law and order issues in Detpon village, where another mahua tree has begun attracting crowds ever since a video of a local went viral. An elderly man is seen hugging the tree in the video, and claiming that he got “75% relief from backache” on touching it. In the Satpura case, too, it was the viral video of a local claiming to be cured of his limp that sparked the frenzy.

But social media rumours are racing faster than he can catch up, and people have already begun worshipping the tree. Videos are circulating of men lighting diyas and dancing deliriously before a hollow in the tree.

While Dixit fights a lone battle, Hoshangabad administration has barred outsiders from approaching the Mahua tree in Nayagaon. Police have booked 35 villagers for assaulting policemen, rioting, and obstructing government work. The makeshift bazaar put up by villagers has been razed, say sources.

“No outsider will be allowed near the tree. Enough is enough. Misconception and rumours had started taking a serious turn. Poor, unsuspecting patients are being taken off ventilators and brought here. We are trying to make people aware,” said Hoshangabad ASP Ghanshyam Malviya. More policemen have been deployed in the region and raids are being carried out to arrest those who attacked police.