Tension gripped Bahiyal village in Gandhinagar district of Gujarat after a provocative social media post by a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader incited communal violence, leading to arson and vandalism targeting Muslim-owned shops and houses.
The unrest erupted when a local VHP leader, Hitesh Banker, circulated a hate-filled post urging Hindus to “teach Muslims a lesson” following a message that read “I Love Muhammad (SAW)” shared by another user.
Banker’s counter-post, saying “I Love Mahadev,” went viral, rapidly spreading through WhatsApp and other platforms and stoking communal sentiments.
Eyewitnesses said mobs armed with sticks and stones rampaged through the streets late at night, pelting stones and torching shops and homes—belonging to members of the Muslim community.
Officials confirmed that nearly 100 suspects were identified and around 80 people arrested for rioting, arson, and disturbing public order.
Police said investigations are underway to trace the source of the inflammatory posts and determine whether the violence was premeditated.
