At least 12 people, including two policemen, were injured when miscreants pelted stones at a religious procession taken out by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Gujarat’s Narmada district on Friday. This information was provided by the police. Superintendent of Police (SP) Prashant Sumbe said that in the morning, stones were pelted at VHP’s ‘Shaurya Jagran Yatra’ near a religious place in Selamba village, after which some people set fire to two shops. He said that when the procession passed through a religious place, some miscreants pelted stones at the procession. About 10 to 15 people, including some policemen, were injured.
The SP said that the policemen immediately brought the situation under control. Sumbe said that we fired seven to eight shells of tear gas to disperse the crowd on both sides. He told that after stone pelting, some people set fire to two shops in the village. Sumbe said that we are identifying the culprits. We are also examining the video of the incident. He said that strict action will be taken against those involved in the violence. In some videos of the incident, an angry mob is seen pelting stones at the procession and policemen are seen trying to stop them.
Information about stone pelting in Manjusar village also
Police said stone pelting was also reported from Manjusar village in Vadodara district when some villagers were taking Ganesh idols to a pond for immersion on Thursday evening. Deputy Superintendent of Police BH Chavda said that when the tractor carrying the three idols reached Garasia locality, people living in nearby houses suddenly started pelting stones, due to which three to four people were injured. Police reached the spot, controlled the situation and helped in immersion. He said that based on the complaint of a villager, an FIR has been registered against about 30 people and three to four of them have been detained for questioning.
Such violence ‘unacceptable’
Gujarat Director General of Police Vikas Sahay said such violence is ‘unacceptable’. While talking to the media, Sahay said that such incidents are unacceptable. Police will take strict action against the culprits. Due to the prompt action of the local police, there is peace in those areas at present.