In Bhopal, a thick bamboo stick (5)

I believe the answer is:

lathi

'stick' is the definition.
(lathi is a kind of stick)

'in bhopal a thick bamboo' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'LATHI' can be found hidden inside 'bhopal a thick bamboo'.

(Other definitions for lathi that I've seen before include "Long, heavy stick" , "club used by an Indian policeman" , "club in India" , "Heavy iron-bound stick used for crowd control by police in India" , "may give wallop to dacoit" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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