Late Wednesday night, Bahiyal village in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar district became the scene of intense communal clashes. The violence, which included arson, was sparked by a provocative social media post, police confirmed on Thursday. Approximately 60 individuals have since been detained in connection with the incident.
According to Additional Superintendent of Police (Dehgam) Ayush Jain, more than 200 people participated in stone pelting, leading to significant damage to vehicles and shops, with some establishments being set ablaze. Bahiyal village is located about 38 kilometers from Gandhinagar city.
The trigger for the unrest was a WhatsApp status update shared by a Hindu man. This status reportedly referenced a trending social media debate involving declarations such as “I love Muhammad” and “I love Mahadev.” Members of the minority community reportedly took offense to this post, which then escalated into the violent confrontation.
The mob allegedly attacked and damaged the man’s shop shutters around 11 p.m. on Wednesday. Police swiftly responded, deploying a significant force to the area, which helped bring the volatile situation under control. As of now, authorities report that peace has been restored in the village, though details regarding any injuries sustained during the clashes have not been released.