Officials on Thursday (October 9, 2025) launched a demolition drive targeting 186 illegal structures belonging to individuals accused of participating in a stone-pelting incident in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar district during the recent Navratri festival, officials said.
On the night of September 24, members of a minority community allegedly vandalised several shops and vehicles and pelted stones in Bahiyal village, located about 38 km from Gandhinagar city, following an objectionable social media post.
Police detained over 60 people in connection with the violence, which involved over 200 individuals. Several shops and vehicles were damaged, and some were set ablaze during the rioting, according to officials.
On Thursday (October 9, 2025), local authorities began demolishing 186 illegal commercial establishments in the village, the police said. The identified illegal properties belonged to those involved in the rioting incident and around 50 of the accused are history-sheeters, the police added.
The demolition drive was conducted under tight security, with about 300 police personnel deployed, and in the presence of the sub-divisional magistrate and panchayat officials, the officer added.
The violence last month was triggered by a social media post that angered members of the minority community, who then targeted the man who had uploaded the content.
This story was originally published in thehindu.com.
