Violent clashes erupted in a village in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar district on Wednesday night, after tensions escalated between two communities over conflicting WhatsApp statuses. The incident led to widespread arson and vandalism, prompting police to detain more than 70 individuals by Thursday.
The confrontation occurred in Bahiyal village, located in Dehgam taluka, approximately 38 kilometers from Gandhinagar city.
Authorities said over 200 individuals from both communities were involved in the unrest, which included stone pelting, torching of vehicles, and damage to local shops.
Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ayush Jain told a section of the media that the violence was triggered by provocative social media posts. “There was an online exchange involving statuses like ‘I Love Muhammad’ and ‘I Love Mahadev’. This digital spat escalated into a real-world confrontation, where groups of 200 to 300 people clashed, resulting in significant damage to property. Several vehicles and shops were set on fire, but the situation has now been brought under control,” Jain was quoted.
When asked how a social media dispute led to physical violence, ASP Jain stated that a message urging users to adopt a particular religious phrase as their status appeared to provoke members of the other community. What began as a personal dispute quickly snowballed into a large-scale clash.
The violence began around 11:00 to 11:30 pm on September 24, with a shop being the first target of arson. As more individuals joined, the situation intensified with both sides throwing stones and setting fire to public and private property. The clash unfolded near a location where a Navratri garba celebration was underway, Jain added.
Police personnel already stationed in the area due to increased security for the Navratri festival initially responded to the situation. However, as the crowd grew and violence spread, additional reinforcements were summoned from across Gandhinagar. Authorities managed to bring the situation under control by 3:00 am on September 25.
An FIR has been registered against unknown individuals at Dahegam police station under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those related to rioting, unlawful assembly, and attempted murder. “We have taken 70 people into custody so far and are analyzing CCTV and mobile video footage to identify and apprehend others involved,” Jain was quoted.
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