Anand: Khambhat Police has filed an FIR against four individuals for allegedly “hurting religious sentiments” after torn pages of a religious text were scattered from a giant wheel during the final day of the 10-day Diwali mela at Chakdol ground in the city. The accused, when apprehended, were identified as Children in Conflict with Law (CCL) and were presented before the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Board on Monday.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Khambhat, S B Kumpavat, stated that the incident occurred when the juveniles, aged 12 to 14, attended the mela and followed a local practice of tossing paper scraps from the giant wheel. Investigations revealed they had unknowingly torn pages from discarded books near Nareshwar Talao, unaware that one of the books might have been a religious text.

Kumpavat added that some local residents noticed the scattered paper pieces and informed the police, requesting an FIR. A case was filed under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections for hurting religious sentiments. The four juveniles were presented before the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Board on Monday and subsequently released.

The incident caused tension in the town, with a large crowd gathering at the Khambhat Police Station to demand punishment for the accused. To prevent any escalation, heavy police deployment was arranged. Officers reassured locals by presenting the facts and registering the case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions. DeshGujarat