Gujarat: North Indians targeted after toddler's rape; 342 arrested for violence, says DGP

Forty-two cases have been filed and 342 arrests made so far in connection with attacks on Non-Gujaratis, especially those hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the state, Shivanand Jha, Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) said on Sunday.

These cases were filed in six districts including Ahmedabad, Mehsana and Sabarkantha, the DGP said adding that state reserve police have also been deployed in these areas. Photo: AFP

AHMEDABAD: Forty-two cases have been filed and 342 arrests made so far in connection with attacks on Non-Gujaratis, especially those hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the state, Shivanand Jha, Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) said on Sunday. These cases were filed in six districts including Ahmedabad, Mehsana and Sabarkantha, the DGP said adding that state reserve police have also been deployed in these areas. Also, two persons have been arrested for spreading rumours on social media. The DGP's statement came in the wake of attacks on non-Gujaratis in several parts of the state following the arrest of a Bihar native for allegedly raping a 14-month-old girl in Sabarkantha district last week. The attacks took place after hate messages against non-Gujaratis, particularly those from Bihar and UP. On September 28, a 14-month-old girl was allegedly raped in a village near Himmatnagar town of Sabarkantha district, around 100 km from Ahmedabad, the police had said. The victim belongs to the Thakor community. One Ravindra Sahu, a labourer hailing from Bihar and working in a local ceramic factory, was arrested the same day for the toddler's rape, the police had said. One of the persons who was apparently attacked claimed Friday some non-Gujaratis were going back to their native places. After it came to light that the rape accused hailed from Bihar, the Kshatriya Thakor Sena said migrant workers from other states should not be given jobs in Gujarat. A 200-strong mob, allegedly led by Thakor Sena members, stormed a factory near Vadnagar town of Mehsana district on October 2 and thrashed two employees. (With PTI inputs)