Communal flare-up in Gujarat's Mehsana after stones hurled at Lord Ram 'Shobha Yatra'
Police fired tear smoke grenades and arrested 15 people after stones were thrown at a Lord Ram “shobha yatra” in Mehsana district of Gujarat on the eve of Ayodhya Ram Mandir 'Pran Pratishtha'.
Gujarat News: Communal tension gripped the Gujarat Mehsana on Sunday after stones were thrown at a Lord Ram “shobha yatra” (procession) taken out in Kheralu town of the district on the eve of the much-awaited Ram Mandir 'Pran Pratishtha'- ceremony to be held in Ayodhya tomorrow.
A senior police official said the incident took place in Kheralu town of Mehsana district, which led to police firing tear gas shells to disperse the stone-throwing crowd and bring the situation under control.
“Police fired three tear gas shells to control the situation after stones were pelted at a “shobha yatra” (procession) of Lord Ram on the eve of the idol consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh ”, said Inspector General of Police. IGP) Virendra Singh Yadav, according to news agency PTI.
However, no one suffered serious injuries in the stone-pelting incident, Yadav said.
Alleged videos of the incident doing the rounds on social media platforms show some people, including women, throwing stones at the yatra from the top of what appears to be a mosque.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: (India.com could not verify the authenticity of the video)
Radicals pelted stones on Ram Rathyatra in Kheralu Gujarat.
Even radical women have pelted stones. I don't know how much hatred they have for Hindus.
I ask @sanghaviharsh bhai to take strict action against the Stone Peltors. pic.twitter.com/M6RwhxJnGd
— Vijay Patel🇮🇳 (@vijaygajera) January 21, 2024
IGP Yadav said police later arrested 15 people allegedly involved in the incident after a combing operation at the location.
“Fifteen persons were arrested after a combing operation at the location. Police personnel accompanying the shobha yatra took immediate action to prevent any (further) incident and brought the situation under control,” the IG said.
The IGP further said that the situation in the area is peaceful and police patrols have been intensified to prevent any untoward incidents.
Ram Mandir 'Pran Pratishtha'
Meanwhile, Ayodhya is gearing up to host the grand consecration ceremony at the Ram temple on January 22. The 'Pran Pratishtha' rituals will be performed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will unveil the Ram Lalla idol to the world.
Prime Minister Modi will perform rituals marking the 'Pran Pratishtha' while a team of priests led by Lakshmikant Dixit will conduct the main Vedic rituals.
Elaborate security actions and arrangements have also been made in the temple town ahead of the ceremony.
The entire temple town is soaked in religious fervor and the streets are filled with songs like 'Ram Aayenge' and 'Awadh Mein Ram Aayen Hain' as devotees eagerly await the 'Pran Pratishtha' at the Ram temple tomorrow.
Ram Lalla idol placed in sanctum sanctorum
Earlier, the new Ram Lalla idol, depicting Lord Ram as a five-year-old child standing on a lotus, also made from the same stone, was installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ayodhya Ram temple.
The majestic Ram Lalla idol, measuring 51 inches in length and weighing a whopping 1.5 tonnes, was sculpted by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj.
(With input from agencies)