News Analysis India

Tag: Garba

  • Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi pats cops for public flogging

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD: Gujarat State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Friday added fuel to the raging controversy over the public flogging by the police of some men accused of pelting stones at a garba event in Kheda district of the state. Sanghavi, during an address at the Gujarat University in Ahmedabad, praised the police action. 

    “Some human rights representatives are well awake these days. Human rights are only for stone pelters. Shouldn’t there be human rights for the small children and women who were hit by the stones?,” he said. He added: “Can’t we organise garba in our village chowk? Why is it that there are always human rights only for stone pelters? Now is the time to think.” 

    Praising Gujarat Police for flogging the accused, Sanghavi said, “Now people of the state can perform garba late at night because of Gujarat Police. The state police have done a nice job and people should express their gratitude towards them on social media.” 

    Meanwhile, sources say that after receiving a legal notice, DGP Ashish Bhatia has ordered an inquiry into the incident. Sources said it would also be inquired as to who filmed the incident and made the video clips viral. The Minority Coordination Committee, a voluntary organisation, had earlier sent legal notices to the state chief secretary and director general of police. 

    The Opposition had also condemned the incident and demanded action after the accused were held tight around an electric pole, thrashed with batons, and asked by the police to apologise in public, as the crowd cheered. 

    AHMEDABAD: Gujarat State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Friday added fuel to the raging controversy over the public flogging by the police of some men accused of pelting stones at a garba event in Kheda district of the state. Sanghavi, during an address at the Gujarat University in Ahmedabad, praised the police action. 

    “Some human rights representatives are well awake these days. Human rights are only for stone pelters. Shouldn’t there be human rights for the small children and women who were hit by the stones?,” he said. He added: “Can’t we organise garba in our village chowk? Why is it that there are always human rights only for stone pelters? Now is the time to think.” 

    Praising Gujarat Police for flogging the accused, Sanghavi said, “Now people of the state can perform garba late at night because of Gujarat Police. The state police have done a nice job and people should express their gratitude towards them on social media.” 

    Meanwhile, sources say that after receiving a legal notice, DGP Ashish Bhatia has ordered an inquiry into the incident. Sources said it would also be inquired as to who filmed the incident and made the video clips viral. The Minority Coordination Committee, a voluntary organisation, had earlier sent legal notices to the state chief secretary and director general of police. 

    The Opposition had also condemned the incident and demanded action after the accused were held tight around an electric pole, thrashed with batons, and asked by the police to apologise in public, as the crowd cheered. 

  • Gujarat: 7 hurt in attack on Garba event; cops thrash suspects by holding them against electric pole

    By PTI

    KHEDA: Seven persons, including a policeman, were injured in an attack on a Garba event by a mob consisting of members from the Muslim community who objected to holding of the programme near a mosque in Gujarat’s Kheda district, police said on Tuesday.

    Police baton-charged the suspected attackers arrested in the case by holding them against an electric pole in the village square in full public view.

    Video clips purportedly showed three persons arrested for allegedly pelting stones on participants at the Garba celebration on Monday night in Undhela village of the district being brought out of a police van near the event’s venue.

    They were then taken towards an electric pole and held against it by a policeman who pulled their hands. Another policeman is seen hitting them below the waist with a baton.

    The images showed the alleged attackers apologised to the public gathered at the spot with folded hands after policemen asked them to do so. People present in a large number at the site cheered the police action.

    Police have arrested 13 persons so far after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the Matar police station, said Deputy Superintendent of Police V R Bajpai. Police were deployed in large number at the village following the incident, he added.

    “The village Sarpanch (head) had organised Garba (a popular Gujarati folk dance) at a temple. A mob from the Muslim community tried to stop it from taking place,” Bajpai told reporters.

    The mob pelted stones and at least seven persons, including a Gram Rakshak Dal (GRD) jawan and a policeman, were injured, he said.

    “The FIR says a mob of 150 people, including women, attacked the group performing Garba by pelting stones. As per the FIR, 43 of the accused have been identified by their name,” the official said.

    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.

    “The Sarpanch had organised the Garba event at the village temple on ashtami (eighth day of Navratri), but a mob tried to stop the function,” DySP Bajpai 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,” said Kheda Superintendent of Police Rajesh Gadhiya.

    “We have deployed police force in the village to main peace,” he said.

    As per the FIR, members from the Muslim community in the village objected to the Garba being organised near the mosque which is located across the temple.

    A group of people gathered at the venue at around 11:30 pm and started hurling abuses at the revellers and asked them to pack up.

    More people joined them and the mob started pelting stones when the revellers continued to play Garba, said the FIR.

    Some of them were armed with sharp weapons, sticks and they pelted stones at the temple, said the FIR.

    At least six persons were injured after revellers at a Garba venue were attacked by some intruders in Gujarat’s Kheda district, police said on Tuesday.

    Police were deployed at Undhela village in Matar tehsil following the incident on Monday night, said an official.

    “A group of people led by two men identified as Arif and Zahir entered the Navratri Garba venue and started causing trouble. They even pelted stones,” said Kheda Superintendent of Police Rajesh Gadhiya.

    “Six persons were injured. We have deployed police force in the village and efforts are underway to arrest the accused,” he said, adding that a home guard deployed at the spot was among those injured.

    Stone pelting was reported in the village square where the Garba dance had been organized on the occasion of the Navratri festival, and also on the approach road from a locality behind the venue, the SP said.

    Those who indulged in stone-pelting have been identified and the locals were being questioned thoroughly, he added.

    KHEDA: Seven persons, including a policeman, were injured in an attack on a Garba event by a mob consisting of members from the Muslim community who objected to holding of the programme near a mosque in Gujarat’s Kheda district, police said on Tuesday.

    Police baton-charged the suspected attackers arrested in the case by holding them against an electric pole in the village square in full public view.

    Video clips purportedly showed three persons arrested for allegedly pelting stones on participants at the Garba celebration on Monday night in Undhela village of the district being brought out of a police van near the event’s venue.

    They were then taken towards an electric pole and held against it by a policeman who pulled their hands. Another policeman is seen hitting them below the waist with a baton.

    The images showed the alleged attackers apologised to the public gathered at the spot with folded hands after policemen asked them to do so. People present in a large number at the site cheered the police action.

    Police have arrested 13 persons so far after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the Matar police station, said Deputy Superintendent of Police V R Bajpai. Police were deployed in large number at the village following the incident, he added.

    “The village Sarpanch (head) had organised Garba (a popular Gujarati folk dance) at a temple. A mob from the Muslim community tried to stop it from taking place,” Bajpai told reporters.

    The mob pelted stones and at least seven persons, including a Gram Rakshak Dal (GRD) jawan and a policeman, were injured, he said.

    “The FIR says a mob of 150 people, including women, attacked the group performing Garba by pelting stones. As per the FIR, 43 of the accused have been identified by their name,” the official said.

    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.

    “The Sarpanch had organised the Garba event at the village temple on ashtami (eighth day of Navratri), but a mob tried to stop the function,” DySP Bajpai 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,” said Kheda Superintendent of Police Rajesh Gadhiya.

    “We have deployed police force in the village to main peace,” he said.

    As per the FIR, members from the Muslim community in the village objected to the Garba being organised near the mosque which is located across the temple.

    A group of people gathered at the venue at around 11:30 pm and started hurling abuses at the revellers and asked them to pack up.

    More people joined them and the mob started pelting stones when the revellers continued to play Garba, said the FIR.

    Some of them were armed with sharp weapons, sticks and they pelted stones at the temple, said the FIR.

    At least six persons were injured after revellers at a Garba venue were attacked by some intruders in Gujarat’s Kheda district, police said on Tuesday.

    Police were deployed at Undhela village in Matar tehsil following the incident on Monday night, said an official.

    “A group of people led by two men identified as Arif and Zahir entered the Navratri Garba venue and started causing trouble. They even pelted stones,” said Kheda Superintendent of Police Rajesh Gadhiya.

    “Six persons were injured. We have deployed police force in the village and efforts are underway to arrest the accused,” he said, adding that a home guard deployed at the spot was among those injured.

    Stone pelting was reported in the village square where the Garba dance had been organized on the occasion of the Navratri festival, and also on the approach road from a locality behind the venue, the SP said.

    Those who indulged in stone-pelting have been identified and the locals were being questioned thoroughly, he added.

  • Garba brawl in MP turns communal, 20 arrested

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: Prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPc have been imposed in Sendhwa town of Madhya Pradesh’s Barwani district, following communal violence over a brawl during a Garba programme in the communally sensitive Moti Bag locality on Wednesday night.

    Over 15 persons, including four policemen, were hurt and at least two vehicles were damaged. Three cases have been registered, including cross FIRs by the two sides. One case was registered against a mob for attacking the police and damaging a place of worship. At least 20 persons have been arrested in this connection.

    According to Barwani Aadditional SP RD Prajapati, the violence started following a brawl over the presence of persons from a different community at a religious programme (Garba) in Moti Bag. It took a violent turn as people from both communities clashed and indulged in stone pelting. Twelve persons were injured.

    Additional forces were rushed to the spot. Locals alleged that men from another community, when asked not to be present at the Garba event, misbehaved with those participating and indulged in violence, targeting women and children.

    Angered over the incident, a mob of hundreds from one community marched to the police station and demanded lodging of cases, arrest of those who started the violence and also search of their houses. Some also tried to attack and damage a place of worship but alert cops foiled their attempt. 

  • ‘Non-Hindus not allowed’: Men from minority communities denied entry into Garba venues in MP 

    Express News Service

    BHOPAL: Right-wing Hindutva outfits are up in arms against the entry of non-Hindus at Garba pandals during the ongoing Navratra in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh.

    While the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has put up posters at Garba-Durga Puja pandals banning entry of non-Hindus in communally-sensitive Ratlam district, at least four youths from a minority community were taken into preventive custody by police after the Bajrang Dal activists raised hue and cry over their presence at a Garba pandal in Indore.

    In Indore’s Gandhi Nagar area, the Bajrang Dal men, led by Tannu Sharma, created ruckus on Sunday night at a Garba venue in Oxford College located in the Gandhi Nagar area.

    “While the administration had granted permission of Garba at the venue for maximum of 800 visitors, the numbers present there were multiple times higher than the permissible limit. Also, non-Hindu youths were present inside the Garba venue. We caught hold of them and handed them over to the Gandhi Nagar police. We won’t allow Garba venues to become ideal breeding grounds of love jihad,” local Bajrang Dal leader Tannu Sharma said.

    The Additional SP (ASP-Indore West) Prashant Chaube confirmed to The New Indian Express that four youngsters (aged between 20-25 years) were taken into preventive custody under Section 151 CrPc and sent to jail, before being released the next day.

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    “The sub-divisional magistrate of the concerned area had given permission for Garba at the venue for one day (Sunday) till 9 pm for maximum of 800 visitors. But the numbers present at the venue were found to be around 5,000-7000, owing to which the local SDM Parag Jain cancelled the permission at 8.30 pm on Sunday. A case has been registered against the Garba organiser Akshay Tiwari under Section 188 IPC,” the ASP said on Tuesday.

    Importantly, owing to the possibility of the third Covid wave, the state government has allowed Garba Utsavas only in residential townships/colonies/localities, while permission from the administration is necessary for commercial Garba festivities.

    In Ratlam district, meanwhile, the VHP put up posters outside Garba pandals (venues) banning entry of non-Hindus. The posters read: ‘Gair Hindu ka Garba prangan mein Pravesh varjit hai’ (entry of non-Hindus is banned at Garba venues).

    Justifying the move, the VHP’s local Dharma Prachar Vibhag secretary Chandan Sharma said, “The incidents of love jihad happen like this. Many non-Hindu men come under disguised identities, make friendships with Hindu girls, then begin love jihad. If the non-Hindu men really want to watch the Garba, why don’t they come with their sisters and mothers, instead of coming alone,” Sharma questioned.

    While confirming about posters being put up outside Garba pandals, the Ratlam SP Gaurav Tiwari said, “We came to know about it from the local media sources. None of the Garba pandal owners/organisers have any objection to the posters. No one has complained against the putting up of posters.”

    Opposition to the presence of non-Hindu men at Garba pandals by saffron outfits isn’t new. In September 2014, the then ruling BJP MLA from Indore-III constituency Usha Thakur (presently state’s tourism and culture minister) had cautioned Garba organisers not to allow non-Hindus into the venues. She had then demanded visitors be allowed entry at Garba venues only on the basis of their valid identity proofs.

  • MP: Four held after Bajrang Dal objects people from different community participating in garba event

    By PTI

    INDORE: Four youths belonging to a particular community were arrested from a garba pandal of a private college here in Madhya Pradesh by the police on the charge of “fear of disrupting public peace”.

    Police also registered a case against the organisers for allowing more than a permissible number of people on the occasion.

    The four youths were taken into custody on Sunday night after activists of the Bajrang Dal created ruckus at the event over the participation of people from a particular community, eye-witnesses claimed.

    Garba dance is organised in different pandals during the ongoing Navratri festival.

    “They (the four youths) were arrested under CrPC section 151 (Arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offences) from a private college campus in Gandhi Nagar area during garba,” Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Parag Jain said.

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    All of them were sent to jail on Monday for fear of disrupting public peace, he said.

    Bajrang Dal’s local coordinator Tarun Devda filed a complaint with Gandhi Nagar police station alleging that the administration had given permission for inviting only 800 people to the garba pandal but the organisers turned it into a commercial event and sold tickets.

    Nearly 2,000-3000 people were given entry to participate in the programme, he alleged.

    Devda also alleged a large number of persons belonging to a particular community were especially present in the programme.

    On the complaint of Devda, a case under section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code was registered against college management’s Akshay Tiwari, but he is not yet arrested.

    Meanwhile, Congress spokesman Ameenul Khan Suri attacked the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government on the arrest of four youths.

    “Why can’t people belonging to different religions participate in each other’s festivals in MP? Police and administration should follow the Constitution of the country,” he said.