Ahmedabad:
A case has been filed against Bajrang Dal workers who assaulted civil society group members reading Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai’s book in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
The police have filed an FIR against two named individuals and a mob of 18 unidentified people for allegedly assaulting civil society members and political figures during a public book-reading session at AUDA Garden in Vastrapur.
Police officials confirmed that three suspects have already been detained based on local CCTV footage as part of the ongoing probe.
The police action stems from a violent disturbance that occurred around 6 PM on Thursday when nearly twenty individuals gathered at the Vastrapur garden to read books, including works by Yousafzai, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Holocaust survivor Anne Frank.
The session was organised over social media following a recent controversy where a local school withdrew Yousafzai’s book under pressure from right-wing activists. Local political leaders, including Congress figure Parthivsinh Kathwadiya, joined civil society members to support the freedom to read.
The session was organised over social media following a recent controversy where a local school withdrew Yousafzai’s book under pressure from right-wing activists. Local political leaders, including Congress figure Parthivsinh Kathwadiya, joined civil society members to support the freedom to read.
The gathering turned hostile when Bajrang Dal workers confronted the group. Right-wing outfit coordinator Jwalit Mehta defended the pushback, warning that his organisation would actively oppose any platform promoting figures they deem anti-national due to Yousafzai’s stance on Kashmir.
According to the complaint filed by local entrepreneur Jaykumar Thakkar, the confrontation rapidly deteriorated into physical violence. Aggressors armed with wooden sticks attacked the participants, injuring several readers. Women attending the event were also assaulted and threatened before the mob dispersed.
Investigators are analysing additional video footage and examining witness statements to identify and arrest the remaining members of the mob involved in the attack.
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