Surat : In a disturbing turn of events, one of six teenagers involved in stone pelting at a Ganesha pandal in Syedpura, Surat, has been found to be a student at a government school who also attends a Madrassa in the evenings. The accused reportedly visited the Ganesha pandal with friends on September 6 and attempted to throw water balloons at the gathering. The next day, he tried to hurl a stone but failed. However, on Sunday night, he returned with five teenage friends in an auto-rickshaw and successfully pelted stones at the pandal.
This incident has prompted swift action from the Surat police, who have arrested around 32 individuals involved in the stone pelting and vandalism that occurred in Syedpura. All the accused were taken to Umra Police Station and produced in the Surat district and sessions court on Tuesday. The arrests have brought some relief to the local community, though tensions remain high.
Police Intensify Surveillance with Drones
The Syedpura area has been under tight security since the incident, with drone surveillance being conducted for the third consecutive day. State Police Chief Vikas Sahay visited Surat on Tuesday to assess the situation personally. In the afternoon, Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) reached the Surat police commissioner’s office in Athwalines to review ongoing efforts to maintain peace and order.
Police are monitoring sensitive areas across the city, including the jurisdictions of Khatodara, Athwa, Salabatpura, Lalgate, and Limbayat police stations. Drones have been deployed in communal and sensitive zones such as Azad Nagar, Rasulabad, Tadkeshwar, Gokulnagar, and Nanpura. Alongside drone surveillance, officers are conducting foot patrols, particularly in slum areas and highway hotels. Police sources emphasize that these measures aim to prevent the spread of further unrest and anti-social activities.
Investigations Under the Juvenile Act
Of particular concern is the involvement of teenagers in the stone-pelting incident. The six youths, aged between 12 and 13, have been charged under the Juvenile Justice Act. The police have also questioned the teenagers’ parents, seeking to understand how the youths acquired the motivation to participate in such acts, which have contributed to communal tensions in the area.
The fact that the teenagers hired an auto-rickshaw to travel to the scene of the crime, despite living within a one-kilometer radius, has raised eyebrows. The police are scrutinizing whether the parents had any knowledge or involvement in their children’s actions. The authorities are particularly focused on determining if the incident was a spontaneous act or part of a larger, organized attempt to spark unrest.
Auto-Rickshaw Driver’s Role Under Investigation
The police have also arrested the rickshaw driver who transported the teenagers to the pandal. However, the investigation into his role is ongoing. The driver claimed ignorance of the teenagers’ intentions, stating, “I had no idea what the children sitting in the rickshaw were going to do. I live in their area, and they just said they needed to go to Syedpura.”
Surveillance footage and local witnesses confirmed that the teenagers arrived at the Ganesha pandal in a rickshaw with the registration number GJ-05-TT-4433. After pelting stones at the Ganesha idol, the boys attempted to flee but were caught by local residents, who then handed them over to the police. One of the teenagers reportedly said, “Main aaj hi aya hoon” (I have just come today) upon being apprehended.
The local community has expressed frustration and anger at the teenagers’ actions. Many residents believe that the boys should be held accountable for their role in the stone pelting. “Those who commit such acts must face consequences,” said one local resident.
Police Urge Calm Amid Tension
In a press conference, Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot confirmed that the six teenagers had indeed arrived in an auto-rickshaw and were involved in the stone-pelting incident. He emphasized the need for calm, urging the public not to fall prey to rumors or to circulate old videos that might inflame tensions further.
Technical teams, including the Crime Branch and Special Operations Group (SOG), have been deployed to investigate the situation thoroughly. Authorities are also cautioning people against spreading misinformation, which could hinder the ongoing efforts to restore peace in the area.
The situation remains tense, but police are confident that with continued vigilance and community cooperation, peace will soon return to Syedpura.
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