Gujarat high Court, today, refused to grant bail to Prashantkumar Pandya, the 20-year-old young man, who was part of the Ram Navami procession in Himmatnagar of Sabarkantha district, where communal violence erupted.
Pandya, while applying for bail, had said that the procession on April 10 was carried out with the permission of the police. However, he said that the state government did not provide protection and so the people panicked, leading to clashes.
However, the court bench of Justice Samir Dave, seemed reluctant to grant the bail. Dave questioned Pandya’s lawyer, asking if the applicant was wielding a sword during the procession. The lawyer answered affirmatively and thus the court refused bail until further notice.
Nevertheless, the court asked the applicant to approach the court after the police file chargesheet.
On April 10, when Gujarat and other parts of India were celebrating Ram Navami, violent clashes broke out in the Chhapariya area of Himmatnagar. Stone pelting and beatings were seen through out the area and many people were injured. The rioting went on for two days.
The local police arrested and remanded 11 persons in relation to the clashes. Later on, the police has named 40 people in relations to these clashes.
