On Sunday, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi reported that six individuals had been arrested in the Sayedpura area of Surat for allegedly throwing stones at a Ganesh pandal. Sanghavi stated, “In Sayedpura, six people threw stones at the Ganesh pandal. All six have been arrested, along with 27 others who were involved in encouraging the incident.”
In response to the disturbance, police forces have been deployed throughout Surat. Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot informed ANI that children were initially responsible for the stone-throwing, which led to a clash. “The police quickly removed the children from the scene,” Gehlot said.
He further explained, “With the help of CCTV footage and video cameras, we are identifying the real culprits.” The police also resorted to lathi charges and teargas while searching for those responsible. In total, 1,000 personnel have been assigned to ensure law and order in the city.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and protests erupted in Surat following the stone-throwing.
In Kolkata, several Ganesh pandals have been used as platforms to protest and condemn the recent brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital on August 9. Many pandals in Kolkata displayed messages calling for justice for the victim and her family, with the festivities taking on a somber tone in light of the tragedy and subsequent public outcry.
