60 Detained Following Religious Tensions and Violence in Gujarat Village After Social Media Post Controversy

The situation is now under control according to police officials (Representational)

Ahmedabad:

A violent clash erupted in Bahiyal village of Gandhinagar district when members of a minority community damaged multiple shops and vehicles while hurling stones following an objectionable social media post, police officials reported on Thursday.

Approximately 60 individuals have been detained from the village in Dehgam taluka in connection with the rioting that occurred late Wednesday night, according to authorities.

Officials confirmed that four shops and between five to six vehicles sustained damage during the attack.

"The violence was triggered by a social media post from a Hindu man regarding the ongoing 'I love Muhammad' trend, which angered members of the minority community," explained Gandhinagar SP Ravi Teja Vasamsetty while speaking to reporters.

Around 11 pm Wednesday, a large group broke through the shutters of a shop belonging to the individual who had posted the controversial WhatsApp status. The agitated crowd removed merchandise from the establishment and set it ablaze, Vasamsetty detailed.

"The group subsequently began throwing stones at Hindu-populated areas, which prompted retaliatory stone-pelting from those areas," the official added.

Authorities have deployed substantial police forces to the area, and the situation has been brought under control.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Ayush Jain confirmed to reporters: "Four shops and five to six vehicles were damaged in the incident."

"We have currently detained 60 individuals, and we are working to identify others involved in the violence," Jain stated.

Police officials assured that the situation is now stable, though they did not provide specific details regarding any injuries resulting from the clash.