Surat: Protests broke out in Surat, Gujarat, on Sunday evening after a group of people threw stones at an idol of Lord Ganesha at a pandal in the Sayedpura area. The incident caused tensions in the area, leading to swift action by law enforcement.
According to Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi, six individuals directly involved in the stone-pelting were arrested, along with 27 others who allegedly encouraged the incident. "In the Sayedpura area of Surat, today six people pelted stones at the Ganesh pandal. All six have been arrested, along with 27 others who supported the act," said Sanghvi.
To maintain order and prevent further unrest, around 1,000 police personnel were deployed throughout the area. Authorities also used lathi charges and tear gas to disperse the protesters as the situation escalated. Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot stated, "Some children pelted stones at the Ganesh pandal, leading to a clash. Police were quickly deployed, and tear gas was used where necessary. All those involved in the disturbance are being arrested."
In response to the unrest, Home Minister Sanghvi visited the site and reassured residents that strong action would be taken against anyone responsible for the disruption. He added, "The investigation is underway, and police are stationed in all areas of Surat. Anyone breaching the peace will face legal consequences."
A similar incident occurred on September 7 in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, where stones were thrown during a Ganesh procession in the Mochipura area.
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