Ram Navami Violence: 23 held, 500 booked in Vadodara clash

The FIR has been filed against a mob of about 500 persons, who “pelted stones during a procession of Ram Navami”,  he said. The accused are members of the minority community.

Addressing reporters, Ninama said on Friday, “We conducted an all-night combing operation in the areas where stone pelting occurred around Hathikhana… There was a team of 400 police personnel including Deputy Commissioners of Police, who were involved in the combing. While 23 persons have been arrested after the mandatory RTPCR tests and medical checkups, 22 other names have emerged and we are probing the involvement. Additionally, a mob of about 500 persons has been booked in the FIR.”

A local court in Vadodara remanded five out of the 23 arrested accused to five days in police custody while 18 accused were sent to Judicial custody.

The Vadodara police had sought five days remand of the 23 accused, which includes at least six women.

“There is zero tolerance for such acts and the Home Minister of the state has also made it clear that there should be strict action… We are also appealing to the citizens to join in ensuring that the city is peaceful. There is heavy police deployment in the area today.”

Meanwhile, Vadodara Police Commissioner Shamsher Singh formed an SIT to investigate the incidents that occurred on Ram Navami. Late on Friday night, a team of police officials conducted a march  in the old city area to continue the combing operation.

The officials continued combing operations in Panjrigar Mohalla, where the first tension had occurred on Thursday afternoon but diffused.

A senior official said that the police teams are also on the lookout for more accused in one FIR that has been filed on Friday at the City police station.

Meanwhile, during a Ram Navami procession in Halol in the Panchmahal district, the Muslim community welcomed the procession, which was led by BJP MLA Jaydhratsinh Parmar amidst heavy police deployment.

As the procession passed through the mixed neighbourhood of Halol Tower road, members of the Muslim community welcomed the procession by showering rose petals on the idol and offering water and refreshments to devotees.