Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad police have arrested Syed Mehdi Hussain after he spoke to the media about an alleged attack on Muslims returning from Taraweeh prayers in Vatva on March 3. Hussain, who recounted the ordeal of stone-pelting and intimidation by Hindutva extremists, was later accused of spreading communal disharmony.
According to Hussain, a group of Muslim worshippers, including elders and minors, were targeted with stones and verbal threats as they left the mosque after Taraweeh prayers. The attackers, allegedly wielding knives, forced them to chant “Jai Shri Ram” and shouted anti-Muslim slogans. Hussain later shared his account with the media, describing the assailants pelting stones from rooftops before confronting them on the street, reported the Siasat.
Despite being a complainant, Hussain was arrested after the police claimed that his media statements and social media posts had incited communal tensions. The Ahmedabad Social Media Cell took note of his Instagram post, leading to his arrest under charges of disturbing religious harmony.
Authorities, however, downplayed the incident, stating that the violence stemmed from a parking dispute involving four individuals—Aman Saja, Ajju Kaniya, Amit Chunara, and Sunil Chunara. The police asserted that those involved had been arrested and that Hussain’s actions online had contributed to unnecessary tension.
The arrest has sparked concerns about the growing suppression of Muslim voices speaking out against communal violence. Activists and community leaders have criticized the move, alleging a pattern of targeting victims rather than addressing the root causes of anti-Muslim attacks.
