In a troubling incident on January 21, the Gujarat Police resorted to firing teargas shells at a crowd that had allegedly pelted stones at the Shobha Yatra of Lord Ram in Kheralu town, Mehsana district. The procession, a precursor to the upcoming ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22, faced unrest in the Hatadiya area of Belim Vas, a predominantly Muslim locality.
According to the police, the procession was making its way through Belim Vas when miscreants began pelting stones at the yatra. Videos of the incident have since gone viral on social media, revealing individuals throwing stones from rooftops. In one particularly alarming video, women and youths can be seen actively participating in the stone-pelting, escalating the tension during the Shobha Yatra.
Radicals have pelted stones on Ram Rathyatra in Kheralu Gujarat.
Even radical women have pelted stones. I don’t know how much hate they have for Hindus.
I request @sanghaviharsh bhai to take strict action on Stone Peltors. pic.twitter.com/M6RwhxJnGd
— Vijay Patel🇮🇳 (@vijaygajera) January 21, 2024
Inspector General of Police Virendra Singh Yadav confirmed that three teargas shells were fired to bring the situation under control. In response to the incident, 15 individuals were detained during a combing operation. Despite the turmoil, the IG assured that no serious injuries were reported among the participants of the yatra.
This is how Gujarat police treated those who pelted stones on Hindus who were part of #RamYatra 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/1yI6GewXq0
— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) January 21, 2024
Hindu organisations claim that the stone-pelting intensified as the Shobha Yatra approached a mosque in the Hatadiya area. The incident has heightened tensions in the region, with allegations of repeated hostilities in the past.
Speaking on the matter, Visnagar Bajrang Dal coordinator Pratik Dave described the situation as tense in Kheralu. He stated, “The Hindus of Kheralu organised a procession to celebrate the arrival of Lord Rama. The incident took place as soon as they reached the mosque. Women were also among the stone-pelters, showing no fear of the police presence.”
Providing further details, a Bajrang Dal activist explained, “The yatra was proceeding peacefully until it reached the mosque in the Hatadiya area. A group of women and men started pelting stones from rooftops, causing chaos and resulting in injuries. Some participants and even police personnel present at the scene sustained minor injuries.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22, led the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ rituals as the Ram Mandir was inaugurated in Ayodhya. PM Modi addressed a gathering of over 7,000 people, including seers and prominent personalities from diverse backgrounds. Addressing the crowd, the PM expressed the significance of the occasion, stating, “Our Ram lalla won’t have to live in a tent now; he will live in a grand temple”.
#WATCH | Ayodhya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “There was also a time when some people used to say ‘Ram Mandir bana toh aag lag jaegi’…Such people could not understand the purity of India’s social spirit. The construction of this temple of Ram Lalla is also a symbol of… pic.twitter.com/NgtASg6kbp
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024
“Bhagwan Ram has finally arrived (in his abode) following the wait of centuries. After the patience that we showed for centuries and the sacrifices we made, our Lord Ram has finally arrived,” PM Modi declared, honouring sacrifices that led to this historic moment.
Referring to the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute, he said, “Some people said that if Ram Temple is constructed, it will set off a firestorm (across the country)… However, this construction did not lead to any fire, but a new energy.”
