Tensions escalate in Thasra, Gujarat following stone pelting on religious procession

At least 10 people, including a sub-inspector, were injured due to stone-pelting at the annual ‘Shobha Yatra,’ a religious procession in Thasra, a town in Gujarat’s Kheda district. The incident took place on Friday and has escalated tensions between two communities in the region. The injured include the sub-inspector, two constables, and seven locals. Kheda Superintendent of Police Rajesh Gadhia confirmed that this year’s Shobha Yatra, originating from a Shiva temple to mark the end of the ‘Shravan’ month, had 700-800 devotees participating.

Authorities are deeply involved in investigating the Thasra stone-pelting incident to ascertain whether it was a premeditated act or a spontaneous occurrence. Community leaders from both sides are in dialogue, seeking to maintain peace in Thasra and the broader Kheda district. Additionally, law enforcement agencies are scrutinizing video footage from the incident in an effort to identify and apprehend those responsible for the stone-pelting in Thasra.

The violence erupted when the religious procession reached the Teen-batti area, where a group of anti-social elements began pelting stones and bricks at the gathering. Swift police intervention managed to restore order in the Thasra region, preventing further escalation. Additional police reinforcements from various parts of the Kheda district have been summoned and are now deployed in the town, aiming to prevent any further untoward incidents and ensure community peace.