13 held after clashes over demolition of dargah in Gujarat’s Somnath district
Somnath (Gujarat): At least 13 people were detained after violent clashes erupted in Gujarat’s Somnath district, when residents of Veraval’s Prabhas Patan area allegedly tried to stop the demolition of a dargah on Monday.
According to officials, during a demolition drive, tensions escalated after a dispute broke out between local residents and staff from the Mamlatdar’s office. Around a hundred women and children gathered to protest, after the dargah's boundary wall was demolished.
Police said the crowd started throwing stones at officials. Security personnel used batons and fired three tear gas shells to disperse the mob and only after the crowd became calmed down, the demolition resumed.
Authorities have cleared the rubble from 11 demolished structures as of Tuesday morning. The demolition sites includes several residences and the sacred site, according to a Madhyamam report.
An FIR was registered at the Prabhas Patan police station based on a complaint by Deputy Mamlatdar Ranjeetsinh R. Kher, who stated that the drive initially targeted illegal encroachments on government land under survey number 831 without incident. The situation turned violent when the operation extended to the dargah. Around 70 to 100 people allegedly surrounded the officials and shouted slogans and pelted stones at the officials.
Cases have been filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for rioting, unlawful assembly, assault on public servants and endangering life, along with provisions of the Gujarat Police Act. While seventeen individuals have been identified, several other are not named.
Earlier, on September 28, 2024, local authorities had razed nine Muslim religious structures. These structures includes the 1,200-year-old Haji Mangrol Dargah, Shah Silar Dargah, and Garib Shah Dargah, along with a mosque, a 500-year-old graveyard, and 47 homes in the same locality.
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Elephant calf brought from Bijnor kept under care at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Pilibhit (PTI): A 19-day-old elephant calf, brought from Bijnor, was placed under care at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Sunday, an official said and added that the calf got separated from its mother in the forest area of Bijnor.
The calf was born on December 2 in the Bijnor forest area and got separated from its mother shortly after birth, the official said.
The forest department made several attempts to reunite it with its mother, but without any success. To ensure the calf's safety and better care, it was decided to transfer it to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on the instructions of senior officials.
On Saturday, Deputy Director Manish Singh received the calf. Special arrangements have been made in the reserve for its care. It has been kept in a safe and clean environment to provide it with a natural setting and protect it from external noise and disturbances.
Singh told reporters that raising an 19-day-old calf is challenging.
It requires a special diet as a substitute for mother's milk and constant monitoring.
He said a special team has been formed to provide 24-hour care. Since the calf is very young, it is being cared for like a newborn baby.
According to Singh, the primary responsibility for monitoring the calf's health has been entrusted to PTR's veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar. Under his supervision, a complete record of the calf's health checkups, diet, and body temperature is being maintained. The team is ensuring that the calf does not contract any infection.
