Ahmedabad— Communal clashes broke out in Bahiyal village of Dehgam taluk, Gandhinagar district, late on Wednesday night after a dispute over a WhatsApp status message referencing the trending declarations “I love Muhammad” and “I love Mahadev.”, reported the Hindu.
According to police officials, the violence erupted around 11 p.m. on September 24, when members of one community objected to a social media post uploaded by a Hindu man. The situation escalated quickly as a mob allegedly attacked the man’s shop, breaking its shutters. This triggered widespread stone pelting involving more than 200 people, leading to damage to several shops and vehicles, with some being set ablaze.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Dehgam) Ayush Jain confirmed that around 60 people have been detained in connection with the incident. “Heavy police deployment was made immediately to contain the situation, and the law-and-order situation has been brought under control,” he said.
While several shops and vehicles suffered damage, authorities have not released information regarding injuries. Bahiyal village is located about 38 kilometers from the state capital, Gandhinagar.
The incident highlights the growing tension caused by social media trends and religious slogans, which have increasingly become flashpoints for communal discord. Police forces remain stationed in the area to prevent any further escalation.
