Skip to main content
Sabrang
Sabrang
Rule of Law Minorities

Video of Gujarat cops flogging men arrested for ‘rioting’ surfaces, inquiry ordered

After first arresting only Muslims on Tuesday, October 4, members of the Gujarat police are reportedly caught on video taking law into their own hands and flogging Muslim youth

Sabrangindia 06 Oct 2022

Garba
Image Courtesy: indianexpress.com

A day after 10 persons, who happened to be Muslim were arrested following a case of ‘rioting’ during a garba (dance) event at Undhela village of Matar taluk in Gujarat’s Kheda district, the Gujarat police has ordered an inquiry into video clips purportedly showing policemen flogging at least five persons, who were arrested in a rioting case, in full public view. This was reported by the Deccan Herald today. The minister of state for Home, Harsh Sanghvi has kept completely silent on the reportedly unlawful action of the Gujarat police.

The videos show villagers cheering for the policemen as they thrashed the men one by one. Widely circulated on social media platforms, the videos have attracted criticism from all quarters. “We have ordered an inquiry after taking cognisance of the videos,” Director General of Police Ashish Bhatia reportedly told the DH. This partisan and unlawful behaviour of the Gujarat police comes fast on the heels of their inaction against extra-constitutional outfits like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal (BD) forcibly ‘preventive’ participation of all communities, especially Muslims, in the celebrations over the past 10 days.

The shocking incident of the police reportedly taking law into their own hands took place on Tuesday, October 4,  in Undhela village of Matar taluk, in central Gujarat’s Kheda district, a day after local police arrested 10 persons from the Muslim community following a case of rioting during garba event in the village.

Rajesh Gadhia, Kheda District Superintendent of Police, while saying that he was looking into the video, explained that it started with village sarpanch Indravadan Patel, as part of his “mannat” (pledge) organising garba on the occasion of Ashtami (8th day of Navratri) at the village temple, which shared its wall with a mosque.

“Normally, the garba is organised at a different place in the village, but for one day it was being held at the temple as pledged by the sarpanch. There were over 250 people, mostly women. However, some people from the other community objected as it was adjacent to the mosque. Initially, it was just a heated argument, but it turned into a brawl. Stones were thrown and many, including five-six women, were injured. A police team was also attacked,” Gadhia told DH.

Gandhia added that the FIR named 43 persons and a mob of hundreds of people. In their initial action taken by Tuesday morning, the police arrested 10 persons, all from Muslim community, and brought them back to the village where they were publicly beaten up. The shocking video shows two men in plain clothes holding the arrested men, one by one, by their arms, tied to an electric pole, and another man, in plain clothes, beating them from behind. The videos, shared widely, also showed a group of men, women and children watching, clapping and shouting “Bharat Mata ki Jai”.

Commenting on the incident, minister of state for home, Harsh Sanghvi said: “This was an attempt to disturb a religious festival by a certain kind of people. Some anti-social elements tried to break the peace. I want to say that in Gujarat anyone who abides by the law will not be troubled (Kayda ma rahshe to fayda ma rashe).” Conspiciously the minister who takes an oath under the Indian Constitution made no mention, leave aside criticise the blatantly illegal and unlawful action of the Gujarat police.

One of the MLAs from Congress party objected to the police action and tweeted: “The accused were tried to a pole and were flogged by police in public while villagers clapped. Only the courts have the right to punish (the) accused, not the police. They shouldn't have taken the law into their own hands.”

Related:

When Navratri’s joyous Garba dance becomes a garb for exclusion: Gujarat, MP
No Garba for non-Hindus: Right-wing in MP
‘Check Aadhaar card to keep out Non-Hindus’: Bajrang Dal to Garba organisers

Video of Gujarat cops flogging men arrested for ‘rioting’ surfaces, inquiry ordered

After first arresting only Muslims on Tuesday, October 4, members of the Gujarat police are reportedly caught on video taking law into their own hands and flogging Muslim youth

Garba
Image Courtesy: indianexpress.com

A day after 10 persons, who happened to be Muslim were arrested following a case of ‘rioting’ during a garba (dance) event at Undhela village of Matar taluk in Gujarat’s Kheda district, the Gujarat police has ordered an inquiry into video clips purportedly showing policemen flogging at least five persons, who were arrested in a rioting case, in full public view. This was reported by the Deccan Herald today. The minister of state for Home, Harsh Sanghvi has kept completely silent on the reportedly unlawful action of the Gujarat police.

The videos show villagers cheering for the policemen as they thrashed the men one by one. Widely circulated on social media platforms, the videos have attracted criticism from all quarters. “We have ordered an inquiry after taking cognisance of the videos,” Director General of Police Ashish Bhatia reportedly told the DH. This partisan and unlawful behaviour of the Gujarat police comes fast on the heels of their inaction against extra-constitutional outfits like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal (BD) forcibly ‘preventive’ participation of all communities, especially Muslims, in the celebrations over the past 10 days.

The shocking incident of the police reportedly taking law into their own hands took place on Tuesday, October 4,  in Undhela village of Matar taluk, in central Gujarat’s Kheda district, a day after local police arrested 10 persons from the Muslim community following a case of rioting during garba event in the village.

Rajesh Gadhia, Kheda District Superintendent of Police, while saying that he was looking into the video, explained that it started with village sarpanch Indravadan Patel, as part of his “mannat” (pledge) organising garba on the occasion of Ashtami (8th day of Navratri) at the village temple, which shared its wall with a mosque.

“Normally, the garba is organised at a different place in the village, but for one day it was being held at the temple as pledged by the sarpanch. There were over 250 people, mostly women. However, some people from the other community objected as it was adjacent to the mosque. Initially, it was just a heated argument, but it turned into a brawl. Stones were thrown and many, including five-six women, were injured. A police team was also attacked,” Gadhia told DH.

Gandhia added that the FIR named 43 persons and a mob of hundreds of people. In their initial action taken by Tuesday morning, the police arrested 10 persons, all from Muslim community, and brought them back to the village where they were publicly beaten up. The shocking video shows two men in plain clothes holding the arrested men, one by one, by their arms, tied to an electric pole, and another man, in plain clothes, beating them from behind. The videos, shared widely, also showed a group of men, women and children watching, clapping and shouting “Bharat Mata ki Jai”.

Commenting on the incident, minister of state for home, Harsh Sanghvi said: “This was an attempt to disturb a religious festival by a certain kind of people. Some anti-social elements tried to break the peace. I want to say that in Gujarat anyone who abides by the law will not be troubled (Kayda ma rahshe to fayda ma rashe).” Conspiciously the minister who takes an oath under the Indian Constitution made no mention, leave aside criticise the blatantly illegal and unlawful action of the Gujarat police.

One of the MLAs from Congress party objected to the police action and tweeted: “The accused were tried to a pole and were flogged by police in public while villagers clapped. Only the courts have the right to punish (the) accused, not the police. They shouldn't have taken the law into their own hands.”

Related:

When Navratri’s joyous Garba dance becomes a garb for exclusion: Gujarat, MP
No Garba for non-Hindus: Right-wing in MP
‘Check Aadhaar card to keep out Non-Hindus’: Bajrang Dal to Garba organisers

Related Articles

Hate Speech

Hate a political tool, now a state project: India 2023

There is a chance to make Meta Facebook accountable for its hate generating content on May 31, by voting YES for Proposal 7 titled “Assessing Allegations of Biased Operations in Meta's Largest Market” which is to be presented at Meta's AGM on May 31, 2023. It highlights allegations against Facebook for disseminating hate speech, its failure to address risks and political bias, voices concerns around inadequate content moderation and lack of transparency in platform practices. The writer calls on readers to participate in this campaign on social media to make our republic hate-free

Hate Speech

Hate a political tool, now a state project: India 2023

There is a chance to make Meta Facebook accountable for its hate generating content on May 31, by voting YES for Proposal 7 titled “Assessing Allegations of Biased Operations in Meta's Largest Market” which is to be presented at Meta's AGM on May 31, 2023. It highlights allegations against Facebook for disseminating hate speech, its failure to address risks and political bias, voices concerns around inadequate content moderation and lack of transparency in platform practices. The writer calls on readers to participate in this campaign on social media to make our republic hate-free


Sunday

03

Jan

Pan-India

Saturday

05

Dec

05 pm onwards

Rise in Rage!

North Gate, JNU campus

Thursday

26

Nov

10 am onwards

Delhi Chalo

Pan India

Theme

Stop Hate

Hate and Harmony in 2021

A recap of all that transpired across India in terms of hate speech and even outright hate crimes, as well as the persecution of those who dared to speak up against hate. This disturbing harvest of hate should now push us to do more to forge harmony.
Taliban 2021

Taliban in Afghanistan: A look back

Communalism Combat had taken a deep dive into the lives of people of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Here we reproduce some of our archives documenting the plight of hapless Afghanis, especially women, who suffered the most under the hardline regime.
2020

Milestones 2020

In the year devastated by the Covid 19 Pandemic, India witnessed apathy against some of its most marginalised people and vilification of dissenters by powerful state and non state actors. As 2020 draws to a close, and hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers continue their protest in the bitter North Indian cold. Read how Indians resisted all attempts to snatch away fundamental and constitutional freedoms.
Migrant Diaries

Migrant Diaries

The 2020 COVID pandemic brought to fore the dismal lives that our migrant workers lead. Read these heartbreaking stories of how they lived before the pandemic, how the lockdown changed their lives and what they’re doing now.

Campaigns

Sunday

03

Jan

Pan-India

Saturday

05

Dec

05 pm onwards

Rise in Rage!

North Gate, JNU campus

Thursday

26

Nov

10 am onwards

Delhi Chalo

Pan India

Videos

Communalism

Bastar violence: Anti-Christian Campaign causes breach in Adivasi unity

Hundreds of Adivasi church-goers across villages in Narayanpur and Bastar, Chhattisgarh have been experiencing boycott, intimidation and violence since December last year, forcing them to leave their homes and live in refugee camps. Reportedly, Adivasi districts across Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh is seeing a rise Hindutva mobilisation against Christians .

Communalism

Bastar violence: Anti-Christian Campaign causes breach in Adivasi unity

Hundreds of Adivasi church-goers across villages in Narayanpur and Bastar, Chhattisgarh have been experiencing boycott, intimidation and violence since December last year, forcing them to leave their homes and live in refugee camps. Reportedly, Adivasi districts across Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh is seeing a rise Hindutva mobilisation against Christians .

IN FACT

Analysis

Stop Hate

Hate and Harmony in 2021

A recap of all that transpired across India in terms of hate speech and even outright hate crimes, as well as the persecution of those who dared to speak up against hate. This disturbing harvest of hate should now push us to do more to forge harmony.
Taliban 2021

Taliban in Afghanistan: A look back

Communalism Combat had taken a deep dive into the lives of people of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Here we reproduce some of our archives documenting the plight of hapless Afghanis, especially women, who suffered the most under the hardline regime.
2020

Milestones 2020

In the year devastated by the Covid 19 Pandemic, India witnessed apathy against some of its most marginalised people and vilification of dissenters by powerful state and non state actors. As 2020 draws to a close, and hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers continue their protest in the bitter North Indian cold. Read how Indians resisted all attempts to snatch away fundamental and constitutional freedoms.
Migrant Diaries

Migrant Diaries

The 2020 COVID pandemic brought to fore the dismal lives that our migrant workers lead. Read these heartbreaking stories of how they lived before the pandemic, how the lockdown changed their lives and what they’re doing now.

Archives