Violence in Gujarat village over social media post; 60 detained

Police reported that violence erupted in the Bahiyal village of Gandhinagar district late Wednesday night after a controversial social media post. Officials said that a mob vandalised several shops and vehicles and resorted to stone-pelting, leading to the detention of around 60 people.

According to Gandhinagar Superintendent of Police Ravi Teja Vasamsetty, four shops and about half a dozen vehicles were damaged in the unrest, TNIE reported.

He explained that tensions escalated after a Hindu man posted a WhatsApp status linked to the trending phrase “I love Muhammad,” which upset members of the minority community.

Around 11 pm, a crowd allegedly broke into the shop owned by the man who had made the post, looted items, and set them on fire. The group then hurled stones in Hindu-dominated areas, which reportedly led to retaliatory stone-pelting.

Authorities confirmed that heavy police forces have since been deployed, the situation has been brought under control, and no immediate reports of injuries have emerged.