Clashes in Gandhinagar village over ‘online battle on WhatsApp statuses’, more than 70 held: Police

More than 200 people from two communities allegedly indulged in stone pelting, damaging cars and shops, and setting them ablaze, police say

Clashes in Gandhinagar village ‘over WhatsApp statuses’, 70 held: Police

Following clashes between two groups in Bahiyal village of Gandhinagar district on Thursday. (Express photo by Bhupendra Rana)

Clashes broke out between two communities in a village in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar district late Wednesday night, leading to violence and arson, following which police arrested around 70 people on Thursday. The incident took place in Bahiyal village in Dehgam taluka, located about 38 km from Gandhinagar city. Police said they were checking CCTV footage and mobile phone videos to identify and arrest others involved in the violence.

According to police, more than 200 people from two communities indulged in stone pelting, damaging cars and shops, and setting them ablaze.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ayush Jain said the conflict stemmed from an alleged online battle of WhatsApp statuses of ‘I Love Muhammad’ and ‘I Love Mahadev’. “Groups of more than 200-300 people fought over sensitive social media posts, leading to stone pelting. They set shops on fire and vandalised public as well as private vehicles. The situation is under control,” the ASP said.

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A man shows burnt currency notes. (PTI)

Asked how a battle of Whatsapp statuses turned into violence, ASP Jain said, “There has been a recent trend of putting up ‘I love Mohammad’ as WhatsApp status and in response, another group started putting ‘I Love Mahadev’ as status. A particular word used in the messages asking people to use the latter as WhatsApp status allegedly enraged the other community. A fight broke out between a couple of people over the issue, which turned into violence.”

The violence began between 11 pm and 11:30 pm on September 24. First, one shop was set ablaze by a group of people. Then more people joined. There was stone pelting from both sides. Several public and private vehicles were set ablaze and destroyed in the ensuing violence. A garba was going on in a nearby area, Jain said.

Police personnel keep vigil at the village after the clash in Gandhinagar district on Thursday. (Express photo by Bhupendra Rana)

Dahegam police personnel were on the spot as part of heightened security during Navratri. However, when the mob increased in size and violence spread, more police teams were called in from various parts of Gandhinagar to control the situation. The conflict was brought under control by 3 am on September 25, police said.

An FIR was filed against unidentified persons under BNS Sections related to rioting, unlawful assembly, attempt to murder, among others, at Dahegam police station. “We have rounded up and arrested 70 people. We are collecting CCTV and mobile phone video footage to identify those involved in the violence and arrest them,” Jain said.

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