Police register case after two violent episodes during Navratri; CCTV helped identify suspects
Bhavnagar police have registered a case against 24 people following two violent episodes in Krishna Society, Kumbharwada, on 16 and 18 October, when groups with a prior enmity allegedly used swords, sticks and stones in confrontations on Nari Road during the Navratri festival.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Prithviraj Singh Gohil of Bortalav Police Station took up the investigation after both groups initially sought a social settlement and declined to lodge complaints. Officers examined available CCTV footage to identify persons who took part in the incidents, which led to the registration of an FIR under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Gujarat Police Act against 24 named individuals, police said.
Police have registered a case against 24 people following clashes between two groups over an old enmity in Krishna Society, Kumbharwada.
Allegations, damage and escalation
According to the police account, the trouble stems from a long-standing dispute involving residents identified by local reporting as Akshay (alias Bhuvo) and Ketan Makwana. A meeting convened on the night of 16 October to resolve the matter reportedly broke down and turned violent, resulting in vandalism and a confrontation between the two factions.
The situation escalated again on 18 October when a further attack took place. In that second incident, one group is accused of attacking the house of Bavchandbhai Rathod and causing damage to the house, its fence, the electricity meter and household goods. Stone-pelting and other forms of vandalism were also reported.
- Dates: 16 October and 18 October
- Location: Krishna Society, Nari Road, Kumbharwada, Bhavnagar
- Alleged weapons: swords, sticks and stones
- Reported damage: houses, fences, electricity meters and household items
- Police action: FIR against 24 people after CCTV identification
Local impact and law-and-order response
The incidents, occurring amid Navratri festivities, raised concerns among residents about public safety and the potential for communal disturbance in a residential area. Damage to private property such as electricity meters also has immediate practical implications for affected households, which may face power disconnection or replacement costs until repairs are completed and meters inspected.
Police intervention after CCTV review indicates a reliance on video evidence to establish involvement where parties initially preferred informal resolution. The registered case under IPC and the Gujarat Police Act allows authorities to pursue criminal proceedings against those named in the FIR and to seek further evidence through witness statements, forensic examination of damaged property and additional footage if available.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of accused | 24 |
| Investigating officer | ASI Prithviraj Singh Gohil, Bortalav PS |
| Primary causes | Long-standing personal enmity between local residents |
| Evidence used | CCTV footage |
Local administrators and the police will have to balance festival-time community sensitivities with the need to enforce law and order. The case registration signals that authorities are treating the incidents as criminal acts rather than purely civil disputes to be settled socially.
Further procedural steps in the investigation will likely include recording statements from affected families, assessing the extent of property damage for compensation or seizure proceedings if needed, and compiling a charge sheet based on the evidence obtained. At present, police have named several individuals in the FIR; media reporting lists some local identifiers but the complete list of names is part of the police record.
Residents of Krishna Society and surrounding localities are expected to cooperate with investigators. The outcome of the inquiry, and any subsequent prosecutions, will determine whether the matter is resolved through the criminal justice process or returns to community mediation after legal proceedings.
Reported from Bhavnagar.
