Gandhinagar: A night of festivity turned violent in Bahiyal village of Dehgam taluka during Navratri celebrations on Wednesday. What began as a traditional Garba celebration suddenly turned into a night of terror as Muslim mobs pelted stones, vandalized vehicles, and set shops of Hindu traders on fire.

Though the initial reports stated that the attack was allegedly triggered by a social media post expressing devotion to Lord Mahadev, made in response to another social media campaign with hashtags “I love Muhammad,” authorities believe that the post alone may not have directly led to the violence. Investigations and detentions are ongoing as local Hindus remain fearful following widespread damage to property.

Community Demographics and Tensions

Bahiyal village has a population composition of roughly 20% Hindus and 80% Muslims. The Hindu settlements are surrounded on all four sides by Muslim-majority areas, meaning that even daily commutes require passing through Muslim-dominated zones. Residents say tensions had been rising for days, particularly after a rally two days earlier displaying the message “I love Muhammad.” Some Hindu villagers allege that members of the Muslim community created fake IDs to post provocative content online, further escalating tensions.

A local resident recounted the horrors of the night, saying, “There are not even 80 Hindu families here, while Muslims number in the thousands. They vandalized everything, including the temples of Ambe Maa, Ramji, and Mahadev. Goods worth ₹5 lakh were looted from my shop. Around five shops were vandalized, and three were set ablaze.”

Another resident added, “A mob of 200–300 came from Ugamna and Morvad areas and vandalized our vehicles. My car was also damaged. Garba was going on with kids and women playing, elderly sitting, yet they pelted stones, injuring 5–6 people.”

“They were pelting stones of all sizes and have destroyed many of our shops. With the police taking a little more time to arrive, the losses increased. Even the police van has been vandalized,” another local said.

Police Response and Detentions

More than sixty people have been detained as police efforts continue. ASP Ayush Jain confirmed that groups of up to 300 clashed during the incident, leading to extensive damage to shops and vehicles, with panic spreading throughout the village.

Meanwhile, reports have also emerged that a large-scale encroachment has been carried out in the village by the Muslim community, and locals are demanding demolition action against illegally constructed properties in the area and the severing of electricity connections of the miscreants involved.

Pattern of Violence During Hindu Festivals

However, if we look beyond this isolated incident, it is not just a case of communal disturbance; its timing and demographic location reveal a worrying trend. In recent years, Hindu festivals such as Ram Navami, Ganesh Utsav, and Garba have repeatedly been targeted by stone pelting and other acts of intimidation.

Some recent incidents in Gujarat include:

• Prior to Navratri, a notice board at Nani Bhagol, Husaini Chowk area of Matar, Kheda, prohibited performing Garba near dargahs, madrasas, and mosques.

• In Vadodara’s Junigarh area, stones were reportedly thrown during Garba celebrations over social media-related disputes just two days ago.

• During Ganesh Utsav, eggs were hurled at a Ganpati Agaman procession passing through Mazar Market in Vadodara in a pre-planned conspiracy, which led to the arrest of over 10 people, including a woman mastermind.

Impact on Community and Cultural Safety

For Hindus participating in one of the state’s most revered cultural traditions, these repeated incidents have deeply shaken their sense of safety. Observers warn that if law enforcement and political leadership fail to treat such attacks as deliberate assaults on Hindu celebrations, it sends a concerning message regarding the protection of the religious and cultural rights of the majority population of the country. Authorities are urged to ensure full legal accountability and protect the rights of communities wishing to celebrate their traditions in peace. DeshGujarat