Surat Tense: Stones at Ganesha Idol Spark Clash

Surat : An eerie silence prevails in the Sayedpura area in Surat after communal tension broke out on late Sunday night between two groups.The tension flared up after stones were pelted by few minors on the Ganesha idol known as ‘Variavi Bazaar Ka Raja’ at Sayedpura area. A total of six Muslim including two minors and four adults had come in the auto rickshaw and pelted stones on the Ganesha idol. 

Following the incident, thousands of Ganesha devotees surrounded the Syedpura police chowky and demanded legal action against the attackers involved in the stone pelting incident. After the incident was reported, two groups pelted stones on each other in which about a dozen of cops including the Vijaysinh Gurjar, deputy commissioner of police were injured and police vehicles were damaged. 

Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut and other senior officials reached the spot. The police resorted to baton charge and fired teargas shells to disperse the mob, Singh Said. 

So far, 32 persons have been detained and two separate FIRs registered in connection with these incidents, officials said.

Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi and senior police officers visited the incident site and promised strict action against the culprits.

Mayor Daxesh Mavani and MLA Kanti Balar reached the Ganesh pandal at 2 am. Then at 2.07 am Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi also arrived. After that the Aarti which was to be performed at 9 pm, started at 2 am in the presence Sanghavi. The aarti started with the chants of Ganapati Bapa Moriya. Sanghavi then interacted with the organizers and talked in such a way that no one would be left out.

Harsh Sanghvi left the Ganesha pandal at 2.45 am and reached Syedpura police chowky after having darshan at another Ganesh pandal on the way.  Combing was done by Surat Police till morning. Vandalized rickshaws, stones on the road and shoes were last seen on the  roads around Syedpura police post.

“Every single person who has disturbed peace of the city will be nabbed and none will be spared,” Sanghavi told reporters.

As per police, some miscreants travelling in an autorickshaw threw stones at the Ganesh pandal, damaging the idol.

Police detained some minors in this connection and brought them to Lalgate police station.

“A mob of 200-300 persons gathered and gheraoed the police station over some minors from their community being detained. In the riot that ensued, some policemen were injured and a police vehicle was damaged,” an official said.

Gahlaut said when the mob gathered at the police station to register their protest against the detention of persons from their community, two groups started pelting stones at each other in which some police personnel were injured.

“Police fired teargas shells and used batons (to disperse the protesters). We are carrying out a combing operation in the area and have detained several accused. We have CCTV footage and video camera recordings which will be used to arrest the accused and ensure strict punishment to them,” he said.

The persons who allegedly threw stones at the idol were booked under various Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita provisions, including unlawful assembly, injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult religion of any class, and deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.

Members of the mob that indulged in violence were booked for rioting, unlawful assembly, damage to public property, etc, police said