Gujarat police have arrested over 150 people and lodged 18 FIRs following a series of violent attacks on non-Gujaratis, mostly factory workers from North India, in North Gujarat.
The attacks came after a toddler was allegedly raped by a migrant labour.
In last 24 hours, the police reported as many as 19 incidents of violent attacks on migrant labourers in the North Gujarat districts, forcing authorities to deploy extra force in localities where migrant labourers live.
Migrants, especially those hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, were targeted in several parts of the State following the arrest of a Bihar native for allegedly raping a 14-month-old girl in Sabarkantha district.
Gujarat’s Director general of police (DGP) Shivanand Jha told media persons on Friday that such attacks had taken place in Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Patan and Ahmedabad districts in the last one week and 150 people have been arrested in connection with the incidents based on 18 FIRs lodged by the cops.
He added that the attacks occurred after hate messages against non-Gujaratis, particularly those from Bihar and UP, were circulated on social media like Whatsapp.
Rape case
According to police officials, on September 28, a 14-month-old girl was allegedly raped in a village near Himmatnagar town of Sabarkantha district, around 100 km from Ahmedabad.
The victim belongs to the Thakor community. One Ravindra Sahu, a labourer hailing from Bihar and working in a local ceramic factory, was arrested the same day for the toddler’s rape.
Following the incident, prominent Thakor leader and Congress legislator Alpesh Thakor, who also heads the Kshatriya Thakor Sena, on Friday appealed to his community and members of his outfit, who were allegedly involved in the attacks, to maintain peace, saying “non-Gujaratis are also our brothers”.
On Friday, Gujarat’s DGP said that 18 FIRs were lodged in different districts and extra police forces were deployed to check in violent attacks on outsiders.
“We have also arrested 150 persons. We will not allow such activities at any cost. We have instructed local police to increase vigil at factories and housing) societies having a good number of non-Gujaratis. We are also keeping a watch on social media messages,” Mr. Jha said while briefing media persons in the state capital Gandhinagar.
Migrant workers
After it came to light that the rape accused hailed from Bihar, the Kshatriya Thakor Sena workers said migrant workers from other states should not be given jobs in Gujarat.
A 200-strong mob, allegedly led by Thakor Sena members, stormed a factory near Vadnagar town of Mehsana district on October 2 and thrashed two employees.
Following the incident at Vadnagar, 20 people were arrested on charges of rioting.
There were also reports of several ‘panipuri’ vendors being threatened allegedly by Thakor Sena members in Mehsana and other parts of North Gujarat. Protests and slogan-shouting against non-Gujaratis were reported from various other towns and villages of North Gujarat.
“Since the accused is from Bihar and the victim belongs to the Thakor community, some elements are spreading misleading messages on social media,” said Inspector General, Gandhinagar Range, Mayanksinh Chavda.
On October 3, a mob allegedly comprising Thakor community members engaged in vandalism in Chandlodia area of Ahmedabad, demanding people from North India leave the city.
