Gujarat Clashes: CM Bhupendra Patel Chairs High-Level Meeting, 31 Held So Far

The stone-pelting occurred during Iftar, the police said.

Himmatnagar: Police try to control the situation after a communal clash during the Ram Navami procession, in Himmatnagar, 10 April. Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo: PTI)

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel chaired a high-level meeting with senior police and administrative officials in Gandhinagar on Tuesday morning, 12 April.

This came after at least 10 people were arrested and an FIR was registered as fresh instances of stone-pelting came to the fore from the region's Vanzaravas area on the night of Monday, 11 April.

“The chief minister held a high-level meeting with Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Director General of Police Ashish Bhatia and other senior officials. Sanghavi informed the CM that nine persons in Khambhat and 22 persons in Himmatnagar have been arrested by the police in the matter. The CM told the attendees that Gujarat is known across India as a progressive and peaceful state and anyone disrupting law and order must be dealt strictly,” read a statement from the office of the Chief Minister.

Several people were injured after communal violence broke out in Gujarat's Himmatnagar.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Sabarkantha superintendent of police Vishalkumar Vaghela said,

"Police received information that stone-pelting happened during Iftar. We reached the spot and controlled the situation. Rounded-off 10 anti-social elements and lodged FIR [sic]."

SP Vishalkumar Vaghela

The SP added that stone-pelting was underway when the police reached the spot and said that the situation was under control now.

"We used tear gas to control the situation. Rapid Action Force (RAF) and local police have been deployed...Situation under control now," he stated.

Meanwhile, videos of the incident captured miscreants throwing petrol bombs at another locality, news agency PTI reported.

A probe into the matter is underway.

Meanwhile, DGP Bhatia and Minister Sanghavi reached Himmatnagar on Tuesday.

“A meeting was held with the local police officials in Himmatnagar by the Home Minister regarding the incidents on Sunday and Monday night and the police security in the area. A total of four companies of RAF and two companies of SRP are currently deployed in Himmatnagar. The key points discussed in the meeting was to make a blueprint of police action to be taken against such incidents in future and to take strict action against the miscreants,” said Bhatia at a press conference in Himmatnagar on Tuesday.

“Separate teams have been made for investigation and catching the culprits. We have booked FIR under sections 307 for attempt to murder and 436 for mischief by fire. Police arrangements have been made to ensure that the affected areas are cordoned off so that miscreants from outside cannot enter the area. Peace meetings between communities at the local level are being organised,” he added.

15 Arrested After Clashes at Himmatnagar, Section 144 Imposed

On Sunday, stone-pelting was reported during a Ram Navami procession in the Chhapariya area, in which some people were injured, as per the police. More than 15 people have been arrested in connection with the incident as of yet.

Following the violence, Section 144 was imposed in some areas of Himmatnagar by Sabarkantha District Magistrate Hitesh Koya.

Police forces have been deployed in large numbers to control the law and order situation in Himmatnagar. The police said in a statement that the attack was a planned one and that the stones were collected on terraces in advance.

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi called for an emergency meeting with senior police officials late on Sunday night to review the incident of unrest reported across the state.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI.)