Bhuj mob attack: Police conduct massive combing,arrest more suspects

Bhuj, 31 July, 2014

Kutch Police conducted massive combing operation with 20 vehicles and extra police force in sensitive areas of district headquarters Bhuj on Wednesday.

During the combing operation, police detained 12 suspects and arrested 6 of them after confirming their involvement in mob attack incident last Sunday in which two dozen vehicles were damaged and at least 8 persons including some policemen were injured. Police had to lobb tear gas shell and fire at least 5 rounds in air to control the violent mob of Muslim youths.

Police has filed complaint against a mob of 140 persons. Over 60 suspects are identified. Police had already arrested 43 persons in this case earlier. One of them was juvenile. Excluding him, 42 others were sent to two days remand by court. They are later sent to Palara jail in Judicial Custody on Wednesday by court. Those 6 arrested on Wednesday will also be produced in court and their remand will be sought according to police.

Kutch police has taken Sunday’s incident seriously and experienced cops who are familier with Bhuj are recalled to Bhuj for assistance from their current postings outside the town.

Due to Ramzan Eid, police had suspended its actions, but on Wednesday, police was in action in Sanjaynagari, Gandhinagari, Ashapura nagari and Sanjognagar. 3 DySP, 10 Police Inspectors, 10 Police Sub Inspectors, State Reserve Police(SRP) commandos, local police teams were part of the combing operation conducted in these areas.

Police is trying to go to the root of entire episode and possibility of arrest of some prominent persons is not denied.

On Sunday evening a mob of Muslims had attacked Bhuj’s ‘B’ division police station with stones. They were demanding police to beat a Hindu culprit in public. A Hindu youth Bhavesh Gadhvi from Mandvi town was arrested by police following complaint filed by a few Muslims against Gadhvi’s comment on Facebook which hurt their religious sentiments. Gadhvi was arrested and brought to ‘B’ division police station. When police was ready to produce him in court, a mob of Muslims demanded that police should bring Gadhvi to public and beat him. The mob then started pelting stones and damaging vehicles of police and others parked outside.