TCN News
On the evening of Sunday, September 8, a Hindutva mob vandalized several Muslim-owned shops and a local Eidgah in the Kathlal-Balasinor area of Gujarat. The violence erupted following a minor road accident and quickly escalated, with properties associated with the Muslim community being targeted. This incident has raised serious concerns about growing communal tensions and increasing violence in the region.
The conflict began when a car, reportedly driven by a Muslim man from Godhra, collided with a motorbike ridden by a Hindu resident of Kathlal. The situation escalated into communal violence, reigniting tensions between the two communities.
A local journalist, Sahal Qureshi, reported that a few Muslim youths from Khokharwada village, who were present at the scene, tried to pacify the situation. They advised the car driver to leave the area, but their intervention only aggravated the conflict, eventually leading to violence.
After the car driver left, a crowd from Kathlal gathered to confront the Muslim youths who had intervened. The situation worsened when a Muslim crowd also assembled in response, leading to a tense confrontation between the two groups.
Reports indicate that a vehicle was set on fire amid the chaos. Social media footage shows mobs ransacking Muslim-owned shops while chanting the slogan “Jai Shri Ram,” further intensifying the communal violence.
Videos of the incident were circulated by Hindutva sympathizers among local villagers, with captions like “King of Kathlal.” These videos depicted mobs vandalizing Muslim-owned shops, accompanied by upbeat music, further fueling tensions.
The police response has faced criticism for being insufficient, as the violence unfolded in the presence of law enforcement without significant intervention. In response, authorities have increased police deployment in sensitive areas to restore order. Local officials have assured the public that strict security measures are now in place to prevent further outbreaks of violence.