Kamal Ghorui
AHMEDABAD: Tension gripped Dhandhuka town after an argument over a road accident led to the murder of a 30-year-old youth, Dharmesh Gamara, triggering widespread violence, including arson, vandalism and rioting in the area. Within hours of the incident, cops detained two youths from the minority community for the alleged murder.Those arrested were identified as Rizwan and Saleem, local cops said. Around 10-15 men from both communities were also detained for rioting and arson, even as investigators examined CCTV footage to book more offenders.Late on Saturday night, the victim’s mortal remains were cremated amid tight police vigil and presence of a sea of locals, even as an uneasy calm prevailed over the town in the aftermath of communal violence.Dhandhuka town earlier witnessed major communal unrest in 2022 after a 30-year-old youth, Kishan Bharwad, was killed by members of the other community over an ‘objectionable post’ that hurt religious sentiments.Narrating the sequence that led to the current violence, police officials said that the murder-cum-rioting incident stemmed from a minor road accident. “Two youths — one from the Bharwad community and another from a minority community — got involved in an accident when their bikes collided. A confrontation broke out between the two in which some provocative remarks were made, triggering tension,” said Ahmedabad Rural Superintendent of Police Om Prakash Jat.The matter escalated when members of one group went to the house of the other individual involved in the accident, he said. “During the confrontation, Gamara, who belongs to the Bharwad community, was stabbed in the leg with a knife. He later died due to excessive bleeding. Following his death, tensions flared, and a group of people set ablaze 10-odd roadside shops. Several properties were damaged,” Jat said.Videos circulating on social media showed small shops engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke rising in the area. To avoid the communally charged situation from getting out of hand, a large convoy of policemen, led by senior police officials Ahmedabad Range IG Raghavendra Vats and SP Jat, descended on the town, bringing the situation under control.Fire brigade teams also rushed to the scene to douse the fires.Cops said that the investigators are examining CCTV footage to identify others involved in the arson and vandalism. House-to-house combing and patrolling were also undertaken in the area to identify those involved in the arson.
