Demolition drive in Sayedpura of Surat after stone pelting at Ganesh Pandal

Surat: Acting on the stone pelting incident that occurred at the Ganesh Pandal ‘Variavi Cha Raja’ in Syedpura on Sunday, the Surat police have arrested over 30 people. Today, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) carried out a demolition drive against the illegal constructions belonging to the accused and others in the Syedpura Police Chowki area.

Amid heavy police presence, the action to remove the illegal encroachments began this morning. The SMC team, using 2-3 JCB machines, cleared the illegal encroachments and removed stalls and carts from the area.

DCP Rajdeep Singh stated that today, the Surat Municipal Corporation team began the process of removing encroached properties around the Syedpura police post. Police arrangements have been made accordingly to maintain order during the proceedings. Special care is being taken to prevent any disturbances or disruptions during the corporation’s actions.

In the latest update, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Harsh Sanghavi, reached the police control room at around 2 PM to assess the situation. During a press conference, he condemned the stone pelters, stating that they are the culprits of society. He also urged the Muslim community to guide their youth, expressing hope that religious institutions, including madrassas and mosques, would help counsel them.

Harsh Sanghavi said, “I have made it very clear that a stone pelter is not just a criminal of the law but a social criminal, regardless of their community. There can be no leniency or mercy in such cases. How does the thought of pelting stones even arise? I appeal to society to guide such youth in the right direction. We all share the responsibility to mentor our youth, whether through madrassas, mosques, or other organizations. If any youth has gone astray, they must be brought back on the right path. I reiterate that we will not spare anyone, from any community, who engages in stone pelting.” He further noted that investigations are ongoing.

Meanwhile, Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot provided information about the stone pelting that occurred last night in Syedpura, Surat. He stated that anti-social elements from outside the area threw stones from a rickshaw. Six children aged 12 to 13 years were involved in the incident, and a case has been registered against them. Most of the suspects have been identified with the help of CCTV footage, and 28 individuals have been detained during the overnight combing operations.

According to the police commissioner, three cases have been registered concerning the incident. One of these falls under the Juvenile Act, and charges of assaulting police officers and vehicle arson have also been included. A complaint has been filed against the mob involved. The situation is now peaceful, and locals are urged not to pay attention to any rumors. Ganesha idols have been installed in the Syedpura area for years, where people coexist in communal harmony, even in the place where stones were thrown. DeshGujarat

Demolition drive in Sayedpura of Surat after stone pelting at Ganesh Pandalhttps://t.co/g4nBwHaKqN pic.twitter.com/OxHHAFx9iP

— DeshGujarat (@DeshGujarat) September 9, 2024

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