Gujarat Police Publicly Flog Men Accused Of Pelting Stones At A Garba Event As Locals Cheer
Videos have emerged on social media showing Gujarat Police publically flogging at least three men who were held against an electric pole, for allegedly pelting stones at a Garba event.
The incident reportedly happened on Tuesday afternoon at Undhela village in Gujarat's Kheda district.
Stone pelting at Garab over location of the event
On Monday night seven persons, including a policeman, were injured in an attack on a Garba event by a mob who had objected to holding of the programme near a mosque which is located across the village temple.
"The village Sarpanch had organised Garba at a temple. A mob from the Muslim community tried to stop it from taking place," Deputy Superintendent of Police VR Bajpai said.
The mob pelted stones and at least seven persons, including a Gram Rakshak Dal (GRD) jawan and a policeman, were injured, he said.?
"A group of people led by two men identified as Arif and Zahir entered the Navratri Garba venue and started causing trouble. They even threw stones," Kheda Superintendent of Police Rajesh Gadhiya said.
13 accused arrested
Following this, an FIR was registered at the Matar police station and a total of 13 people have been arrested so far.
The arrested accused were booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) related to attempt to murder, rioting, unlawful assembly and voluntarily causing hurt, among others.?
According to the FIR a mob of 150 people, including women, attacked the group performing Garba by pelting stones. 43 of the accused have been identified by their name.
Accused flogged by police?
On Tuesday afternoon some accused were taken to the spot, and in full public view they were held against an electric pole by pulling their hands and flogged by men in civil dress but are said to be cops.
Video posted on social media showed the men being made to apologise to the public who were cheering and chanting Bharat Mata Ki Ji to the police action.?
Garba vandalised for employing non-Hindus?
In a related development on Tuesday, men claiming to be Bajrang Dal activists beat up organisers and security guards of a garba pandal in Surat and vandalised the place claiming non-Hindu people were employed at the venue.
"A group identifying themselves as Bajrang Dal activists went to Thakor Ji Ni Wadi garba pandal in Surat's Vesu area on Monday night and beat up organisers and security guards. They also damaged part of the place," DCP, Zone III, Sagar Bagmar said.
He said the intruders claimed that some people employed at the pandal belonged to a different religion and wanted them out.
The Thakor Ji Ni Wadi garba pandal refused to lodge a complaint, saying the matter was settled between the two parties.
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