Stones pelted at Surat's Ganeshotsav pandal from nearby mosques
Surat, Gujarat, India 
6 September, 2024
Case Summary
On September 7 and 8, 2024, stones were thrown at a Ganeshotsav pandal in Surat’s Lal Gate area by Muslim minors, leading to widespread protests from the Hindu community. The incident occurred at the Ganesh pandal in the Variyali Bazar area. Police arrested 27 individuals involved, and increased security in the area. The stone-pelting incidents continued even when police arrived to investigate, with some Hindu groups confirming stones were also thrown from nearby mosques. Bajrang Dal activist Yagnesh Patel seconded these reports. Local Hindu organisations gathered at the police station demanding strict punitive measures, including bulldozer action against the accused, similar to actions taken under UP CM Yogi Adityanath. Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi confirmed on social media that the stone pelters were arrested by 6:30 am on September 9. CCTV footage, drone visuals, and other surveillance tools were used to identify the suspects. Responding to public demands, local authorities initiated bulldozer action in the Sayedpura area, demolishing illegal properties linked to the arrested individuals.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This particular case has been classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under the core category of 'Attack on Hindu religious symbols' and within this, the sub-category selected is- Violence against religious structures or centres. In Hinduism, a religious structure is also considered divine. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the religious structure itself is sacred. In this sub-category, we would document attacks against religious structures which are not consecrated temple spaces. Such religious spaces could be temporary in nature – for example – the religious spaces erected specifically for festivals like Durga Puja etc. This category would also document cases of attacks against religious centres. These spaces in their own right may not be ‘sacred’ per se, however, are often spaces where religious gurus live, religious teaching is imparted, or belong to religious institutions. Any attack against religious structures is a result of animosity towards the religion itself, which manifests itself through the religious spaces and therefore, such attacks are considered religiously motivated hate crimes. Religious centres are also manifestations of the religion, its teachings or gurus and therefore, attacks against such centres would be considered religiously motivated hate crimes. The stone-pelting incident during Ganeshotsav at a Hindu pandal in Surat’s Lal Gate area represents a targeted attack on a religious gathering at a temporary religious sacred space and a symbolic act against Hindu religious observance. By throwing stones at the pandal—a central place of worship during the Ganesh festival—the attackers aimed to disrupt a sacred space, intimidating the Hindu community and undermining their right to freely and peacefully celebrate their faith. The fact that stones were reportedly thrown from near a mosque adds another troubling layer to this hate crime. Such an occurrence not only signifies an attack on the Hindu community's religious observance but also raises questions about the origins and intentions behind the violence. In fact, this detail underscores a deeper hostility, as the attackers may have exploited the mosque's location to facilitate an attack on the Hindu religious centre.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
