A communal conflict incited by a controversial social media post has resulted in the arrest of ten people in Gujarat’s Patan district. The post that ignited the clash in Balisana town on the night of July 16 allegedly concerned the Bollywood movie ‘The Kerala Story,’ though the police have not officially confirmed the post’s content.
In an update provided on Tuesday, Inspector J.S. Chaudhary of the Balisana police station reported that the arrests included individuals from both sides of the conflict. Eight were detained on Monday, with two more, including a man named Krish Patel, arrested the following day. The accused are facing multiple charges, including rioting, assault, and attempted murder. As part of the ongoing investigation, the police conducted a “reconstruction of the crime” exercise on Monday, escorting some of the arrested individuals to the location of the incident at Masjid Chowk. A video of this procedure quickly circulated on social media platforms.
Deputy Superintendent of Police K.K. Pandya stated that the situation in the town is now under control. He explained that the conflict escalated due to a controversial social media post by a local resident, which led to a communal clash that left eight people injured.
