AHMEDABAD: Controversy over a temple led to trouble in Sola area here on Monday night, with a riotous mob vandalising a bungalow near Bhuyangdev cross-roads and assaulting its owner Jagdish Patel because he had moved the Gujarat High Court for the removal of a temple near his house.
Anticipating demolition by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, following the High Court order, the mob went berserk, even attacking the policemen who rushed to the spot. The pandemonium continued from 10 pm to 2 am and the police had to resort to lathicharge and burst 18 tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.
Tempers ran high even on Tuesday, with a large number of devotees continuing to surround the temple. Patel, who fled his house with his wife and son on Monday, has not been able to get back home.
Patel, a resident of Shakuntal bungalows, tried to get a four-feet-high temple removed from near his house. After failing to move the municipal authorities, Patel moved the Gujarat High Court, which had ruled in his favour on May 1.
The excitement had been building up ever since the order was passed, with people, including women in the neighbourhood, keeping a vigil at the temple all night.
Following this episode, SRP jawans were posted at the spot to keep matters under control. Five persons were injured in the stone pelting. A complaint was later registered at Ghatlodia police station and five persons were arrested for rioting.
