Police detained 20 persons late Thursday in Vadodara after alleged stone pelting during Ram Navami procession in Kumbharwada area of old city, the second such incident in the day. In the afternoon, police “diffused” tension between two communities in Fatepura area during another procession to mark Ram Navami. The incidents triggered tension as multiple processions made their way through the old city area. In the evening, despite heavy police deployment following the face-off between two communities, miscreants threw stones at the police during a Ram Navami procession. Denying that the incidents were “communal clashes” police said they have detained 20 persons for pelting stones. Commissioner of Police Shamsher Singh told The Indian Express, “There was an incident of stone pelting in Kumbharwada by miscreants. There were no mobs belonging to communities and it was not a clash. As the police started picking up those who were pelting stones, they started targeting police and were detained. There was a rumour of stone pelting at the Ram Navami procession earlier in the day but what triggered the incident in the evening is a matter of probe.” Singh added that the city police station will register an FIR after examining the CCTV footage of the incident. “We are examining the CCTV footage to decide if more than one FIRs is needed,” said Singh. Several BJP leaders, including Mayor Nilesh Rathod, former mayor and Sayajigunj MLA Keyur Rokadia, party’s Vadodara city unit president Vijay Shah, party general secretary Sunil Solanki and state general secretray Bhargav Bhatt, visited the area to take stock of the situation.’ Over 500 trainee Lok Rakshak Dal (LRD) jawans were deployed for security on routes where processions were expected to be held to mark Ram Navami, police said. In the afternoon, two groups came face-to-face as a Ram Navami procession was passing by a mosque in Panjrigar Mohalla. Senior police officials confirmed that police “dispersed” the crowd before the altercation could escalate. According to personnel of the city police station, the tension occurred at Panjrigar mohalla around 1 pm, when a Ram Navami procession of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) was passing by. Two groups came face-to-face but police intervened and the procession continued. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone III, Yashpal Jaganiya said, “There has been no incident of stone pelting or lathicharge in the old city of Vadodara. Two groups were involved in a verbal altercation after the procession crossed Panjrigar Mohalla. But the yatra, which had police personnel accompanying it, continued as they swung into action and dispersed the groups. We have already deployed SRP units and also personnel along the route at various points to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.” Jaganiya also added that the police were keeping a “strict watch” on social media to check rumours about a “communal clash” and that stern action would be initiated against offenders. “We have an eye on social media through the cyber crime cell. Anyone who is found spreading rumours will be dealt with. People are also requested to not believe in rumours of any communal clash,” Jaganiya said. State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, in a media briefing at the office of the Commissioner of Police, Surat, said, “Through 354 CCTV cameras, the stone pelters will be identified and arrested. Strict action will be taken against them. Extra forces have been sent to Vadodara along with experienced officers to control the situation.”
