Surat: Banners promoting an event organized by the Swaminarayan sect were defaced with black paint, with remarks such as “Lampat Bawa” written on them, leading to a police complaint.

According to the police, 26-year-old Kunal Gordhanbhai Akolia, a resident of Mahalaxmi Society in Kiran Chowk, Sarthana, is originally from Amreli and runs a saree business. On March 24, he and other devotees put up banners for Shrimad Satsang Jeevan Katha Parayana on behalf of their Swaminarayan temple, Loyadham, in Sarthana. The event is scheduled to take place from April 2 to April 8.

After putting up the banners late at night, Kunal and the devotees returned home. The next morning, on March 25, Kunal received a call from a fellow devotee informing him that the banners had been vandalized with offensive writings. Upon inspection at locations such as Swaminarayan Mandir Chowk, Yogi Chowk, Mahavir Chowk, and Shyamdham Chowk, it was confirmed that multiple banners had been defaced.

CCTV footage from the area revealed that Hasmukh Vaghani, Vaghjibhai Party, Ghanshyambhai Desai, Atish Rafalia, Manishbhai Sangani, and 5 to 7 other individuals were involved in the act. Following this, Kunal Akolia filed a complaint at the Sarthana police station. The police have registered a case of rioting against five individuals and launched an investigation into the matter.

Notably, this act comes in the wake of a series of objectionable remarks made by monks of the Swaminarayan sect against Bhagwan Dwarkadheesh. These statements have sparked widespread protests from the Hindu community.