Tensions flared in Surat, Gujarat on Sunday evening after a group of individuals pelted stones at a Lord Ganesha idol placed at a pandal during the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. The incident, which occurred in the Sayedpura area, sparked immediate outrage and protests.
Responding swiftly, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi confirmed the arrest of six individuals directly involved in the stone pelting. An additional 27 individuals who were accused of inciting the violence were also apprehended by the police.
“In the Sayedpura area of Surat, today 6 people pelted stone on the Ganesh Pandal…All these 6 people were arrested and the police have also arrested the other 27 people who were involved in encouraging such incident,” Sanghvi stated, as quoted by ANI.
The situation escalated rapidly, necessitating the deployment of 1000 police personnel to maintain order and control the agitated crowds. Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot confirmed the use of lathi charges and tear gas to disperse protesters.
“Some children pelted stones at a Ganesh pandal after which a clash broke out. The police immediately took away those children from there…Police were immediately deployed in the area. Lathi charge was done in all the areas where it was needed and tear gas was used…All the accused who were involved in the peace disturbance are being arrested. There are around 1,000 police personnel deployed all around,” said Gehlot, according to a Network 18 report.
Home Minister Sanghvi visited the site of the incident and reassured the public that strict action would be taken against all those involved in disrupting the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. “The investigation is underway…police are deployed in all the areas of Surat…Those who will breach the peace, action will be taken against them,” the Home Minister affirmed, as reported by ANI.
This incident comes just a day after a similar stone-pelting incident during a Ganesh procession in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. The attack occurred in the Mochipura area while devotees were carrying a Lord Ganesh idol to the pandal. These incidents highlight concerns about maintaining religious harmony and peaceful celebrations during festive periods.
