Gujarat: Communal Tension in Surat After Minors Pelt Stones at Ganesh Pandal, 33 Arrested

Surat: Tensions flared in Surat’s Sayedpura area on Monday after minors allegedly pelted stones at a Ganesh pandal, sparking group clashes. Thousands of locals gathered at a nearby police unit, demanding immediate action.

The Surat police quickly responded by deploying a heavy force to control the situation. Police resorted to a lathi charge and used tear gas to disperse the agitated crowd.

Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Gehlot told ANI, “Children threw stones at the Ganesh pandal, leading to clashes. We deployed police and took immediate action, including lathi charge and tear gas where necessary. Arrests are underway for those responsible for disturbing the peace.”

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi and local BJP MLA Kanti Balar visited the area around 2:30 AM to defuse the tension. Sanghavi confirmed the detention of six minors involved in the incident and the arrest of 27 others for allegedly encouraging the stone pelting.

In a post on X, Sanghavi stated, “As promised, we apprehended the stone-pelters before sunrise. Our teams are working around the clock using CCTV footage, drone visuals and other surveillance methods to identify all culprits. Strict action will be taken.”