After Surat, stones were thrown at the Ganesha mandap in the Kutch village of Nakhatrana where Muslim children are reported to have been used to execute the conspiracy due to which the idol of Lord Ganesha was vandalised. An Islamic flag was also hoisted in a Hindu temple which was a short distance from the mandap. The incident has led to a tense situation in the area. The authorities, meanwhile, registered a case and arrested seven people. Maulana Ghulam Hussain Jafar, Asif Sumra Padhiyar, Sahil Ramzan and Hanif Jusan are among the arrested.
The matter pertained to Kotada Jadodar hamlet. A video of the incident was captured on 10th September and showed the defaced idol. A man in the footage can also be heard accusing the police of not taking any action in the name of “bhai-chara” (brotherhood) for two days.
સુરત બાદ હવે કચ્છના નખત્રાણામાં એ જ મોડસ ઓપરેન્ડીથી હિંદુ આસ્થા પર હુમલો
— ઑપઇન્ડિયા (@OpIndia_G) September 11, 2024
કોટડા જરોદાર ગામે પથ્થરમારો કરીને ગણેશજીની પ્રતિમા ખંડિત કરાઈ. મંડપથી થોડે જ દૂર એક મંદિર પર ફરકાવી દેવાયો લીલો ઝંડો.
પથ્થરો ફેંકનારા મુસ્લિમ સગીરો, એકનો બાપ મૌલાના.
પોલીસે ગુનો નોંધીને ત્રણ સગીરો સહિત… pic.twitter.com/Yrwl4TeqU5
Another video that displayed a green flag on the top of a temple has come to light. Some Muslim youths were reportedly on this road after which an Islamic flag was seen on the nearby temple instead of a Dhaja (Hindu flag/banner).
The cops launched a case and apprehended seven people out of which three were minors and the remaining were adults. Some of them were also involved in raising the flag on the temple. Now, all of them have been taken into custody and further legal action is underway. Notably, the father of one of the accused kids is a maulana (cleric).
Kutch-East District Police Chief Sagar Bagmar confirmed the police action and informed, “Three minor children were involved in breaking the idol. Police have arrested four other people hoisting a green flag on the temple. A case has also been filed at the Nakhatrana police station and the situation is under control. More action is being taken in the matter.” The official added, “There were three children involved and one of them has a cleric father who has also been nabbed and is currently being questioned. Further action will be taken based on the information received from him.”
કચ્છમાં ગણપતિના પંડાલ પર પથ્થરમારાને લઈ સાગર બાગમારનું નિવેદન… #kutch #gaanpatifestival #Enemies @SP_EastKutch@sanghaviharsh @GujaratPolice @SagarBagmar#Gujarat #NewsCapitalGujarat #JaneCheGujarat pic.twitter.com/TZQveQ92qW
— NewsCapital Gujarat (@NewsCapitalGJ) September 11, 2024
Notably, a Ganesha mandap was recently constructed in the Variyadi Bazar neighbourhood of Surat which also encountered stone pelting by a group of underage Muslims who arrived at the location through a rickshaw and perpetrated the offence. Afterwards, thousands of Hindus came out on the streets to protest against the occurrence. However, stones were again hurled from Muslim-majority areas and even cops were attacked. Twenty-seven culprits have been arrested by the police regarding the matter and further inquiry is ongoing. On the other hand, unlawful construction in the nearby Syedpura also faced bulldozer action. Importantly, the same modus operandi has been replicated in Kutch.
