A dispute over a social media status spiralled into violence during Garba celebrations in Gujarat, with stone pelting, vehicles torched and police vehicles damaged, officials said on Thursday.
The clash erupted late Wednesday night in Bahiyal village of Dahegam, Gandhinagar district. What began as an online disagreement quickly escalated into street violence, leaving several people injured and property damaged.
More than eight vehicles were attacked, and a shop was vandalised and set on fire. Police officers who attempted to bring the situation under control were also targeted, with two of their vehicles sustaining damage in the unrest.
Footage from the scene showed men hurling stones at each other and some wielding rods. In the background, a woman’s scream could be heard, apparently calling out for her son in panic.
According to preliminary reports, the violence was triggered after a man from the Hindu community posted a message on social media saying, “I Love Mahadev”, along with a call to trend it in response to “I Love Mohammad.” The post provoked anger among members of the Muslim community.
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Soon after, a group of men from the Muslim community approached the boy’s shop. The boy fled, and the shop was vandalised in his absence. CCTV footage later captured several men breaking into the shop and damaging it.
As police arrived to control the crowd, they too came under attack. Two police vehicles were damaged in the confrontation. Visuals from the aftermath showed residents dousing flames from the fire and pointing to burnt vehicles.
Authorities have since deployed a heavy police presence in Bahiyal to restore order and prevent further escalation. While no deaths were reported, several people sustained injuries in the clashes.
Police said efforts are under way to identify and arrest those involved. Officers have appealed to residents not to post inflammatory content online and to cooperate as the investigation continues.
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