Communal clashes in Itadara over clicking photos of other community girl

Gandhinagar: More details are coming out regarding communal clash in Itadara village of North Gujarat.

Two Muslim youth were spotted clicking photograph of a Hindu girl by her father in the Itadara village of Mansa taluka in Gandhinagar district. When the girl’s father opposed this and demanded the phone from the youth, he was threatened to face consequences. The youth returned with 8-10 goons of their community. In reaction to this, people of the girl’s community came in support of the girl. Communal clashes resulted in the night due to the conflict between the two groups. Bikes were set ablaze and a LED television set, placed in front of the village temple was damaged.

Meanwhile, a 25 years old Hindu youth named Amarsinh Rana, who owns a grocery shop in the village, was attacked at 8:30 pm when he was returning home on his motorbike. Rana was attacked by the mob which comprised of locals named Firoz Khan Ahmed Khan Pathan, Farid Khan Firoz Khan Pathan, Razkhan Firoz Khan Pathan, Sahil Mian Asif Mian Shaikh, Ashfaq Khan Zakir Mian Belim, Dilawar Khan Ahmed Khan Pathan; with swords and other lethal weapons. Rana was abused and injured in the hand when he tried to stop Farid Khan Pathan who was trying to attack him with a sword.

The mob fled as the situation worsened. Rana was taken to hospital. Police rushed immediately to the spot where clashes had taken place. Senior district officials too arrived in Itadara to ensure that law and order is maintained in the village. Constant patrolling is being done by the police to ensure that law and order situation is not disturbed in the village. Police have registered the complaint of the injured youth and have arrested six accused responsible for the attack.

The residents of Itadara village are living under constant fear of riots which can get provoked any time. Repercussions of the communal riots in Itadara are seen across the state. The communal clashes in Itadara village of Mansa taluka is yet another incident of communal riots in Gujarat in this month. Sri Rama Navami processions last week were attacked by fanatic religious mobs in Himmatnagar and Khambhat. In Himmatnagar, Hindu families were reportedly fleeing from their homes fearing loss of life and property after the clash.