Tension Simmers In Surat After Stone Pelting On Ganesh Pandal In Surat, 32 Detained

Tensions escalated in Surat, Gujarat, after stones were thrown at a Ganesh Chaturthi pandal, damaging the idol.

Tension erupted in Gujarat's Surat after some persons allegedly threw stones at a pandal during the ongoing festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, damaging the idol of the deity, said the police on Monday. Some minors were detained in connection with the incident which took place in Saiyedpura locality of the city late Sunday night. 

Soon a mob of around 300 people gathered at Lalgate police station to protest the action against their community members, reported PTI. Stones were pelted between members of the two groups some police personnel were also injured and a police vehicle was damaged. 

Police resorted to baton charges and teargas shells to quell the mob, Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut told reporters. Two separate FIRs have been lodged and 32 persons have been detained so far, officials said. 

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi visited the incident along with senior police officers and assured strict action against the culprits. "Every single person who has disturbed the peace of the city will be nabbed and none will be spared," Sanghavi told reporters. 

The minister, along with the Surat police team, also performed AArti and puja at the pandal where stones were pelted. 

The Police Commissioner said that two groups started pelting stones at each other when the mob gathered at the police station to register their protest against the detention of persons from their community. 

"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.

A case was registered under the provisions of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita against the person who allegedly threw the stones at the idol. The charges include unlawful assembly, injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class, and deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.