‘Preaching’ at community gathering on Christmas sparks row in Surat village

As per details received from Surat rural police, on the night of December 25, a resident of Aamchak village in Mahuva taluka erected a tent outside his house from where another man of the neighbouring village was accused of giving a religious speech. The villagers informed Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders as well as Mahuva police.

Talking to The Indian Express, Mahuva Police inspector K C Parghi said, “The situation was brought under control and everybody went back to their homes. Nobody lodged a complaint in this connection.”

A day later, on Thursday evening, a few youngsters were allegedly seen carrying pamphlets and religious books in Songadh town in Tapi district. After a while, a man from the group began preaching through a mic, which was objected to by a few passers by, said police. A purported video of the incident also made the rounds on social media.
Later, the man apologised and left the spot. On learning about the incident, Songadh police called the youths seen in the video to the police station on Friday but learnt that the man in question had left for Mumbai on Thursday night.

Songadh police inspector K D Mandora said, “The incident had taken place in Songadh town market area where a youth was preaching through mic and some of the youths objected to it. Through local people, we came to know that the preacher and his team had left Mumbai. Nobody knows their residential address as they had not taken any local support. The situation in the town is peaceful and nobody has lodged a complaint in this connection.”