27 Arrested For Stone-Pelting On Ganesh Idol In Surat, BJP Minister Harsha Sanghavi Performs Aarti In Same Pandal

Gujarat Police arrested 27 individuals in Surat before the dawn of Monday (9 September) for pelting stones at Lord Ganesh's idol with the intent to damage it.

MLA from Surat's Majura and Gujarat Minister, Harsh Sanghavi had promised that before the first rays of the sun, all stone-pelters would be arrested.

"CCTV, video visuals, drone visuals, and other technical surveillance work is still ongoing," Sanghavi said adding that strict action will be taken against all accused.

Earlier in the morning. Sanghavi performed Lord Ganesh's Aarti and Puja at the same pandal where stone-pelting occurred. Surat Police Team and Ganesh Mandal organisers accompanied him.

"Our teams have worked whole night and yet to identify the stone-pelters and bring them to justice," he said referring to a major combing operation with the help of videos and drone visuals.

In the stone pelting, a man was injured. Protesting against it, parked vehicles near the Saiyedpura police station were set on fire demanding the arrest of the accused.

According to police sources, the initial incident took place at the Ganesh pandal in Variyavi bazaar, located along the roadside, when a group of teenagers in an auto rickshaw passed by after 9 pm.

As one stone struck the idol and another injured a man standing at the pandal, a crowd swiftly gathered at the scene. Police later used lathi charges to disperse the mob near the station.

The said locality has a considerable Muslim population and hence, Surat police commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut appealed to citizens to maintain peace and communal harmony in the area.