Teen attacker has madrassa links

Schoolboy made three attempts before succeeding

In a disturbing turn of events, one of six teenagers involved in stone-pelting at a Ganesha pandal in Syedpura, Surat, has been found to be a student at a government school who also attends a madrassa in the evenings. The accused reportedly visited the Ganesha pandal with friends on September 6 and attempted to throw water balloons at the gathering. The next day, he tried to hurl a stone but failed.

However, on Sunday night, he returned with five teenage friends in an auto-rickshaw and successfully pelted stones at the pandal.

This incident has prompted swift action from the Surat police, who have arrested around 32 individuals involved in the stone-pelting and vandalism that occurred in Syedpura. All the accused were taken to Umra Police Station and produced in the Surat district and sessions court on Tuesday. The arrests have brought some relief to the local community, though tensions remain high.

Police Intensify Surveillance with Drones

The Syedpura area has been under tight security since the incident, with drone surveillance being conducted for the third consecutive day. State Police Chief Vikas Sahay visited Surat on Tuesday to assess the situation personally.