Four men were reportedly stopped by Bajrang Dal activists at two garba venues in Ahmedabad’s Vastral and Maninagar areas on October 15 and handed over to the Ramol and Maninagar police, respectively, after activists questioned their identities. The incidents have raised immediate concerns about private groups conducting identity checks and policing access at public festival venues.
According to a report by Sandesh – Ahmedabad, two men were stopped at a garba plot in Vastral after Bajrang Dal members allegedly became suspicious of their behaviour. The activists asked the men to show identity documents and claimed that the documents established that they belonged to another community. The report does not independently establish the basis for the suspicion or confirm whether the men were legally barred from entering the venue.
The incident reportedly led to a disturbance at the Vastral venue. Sandesh reported that the two men were allegedly assaulted at the site, although the report did not include a police confirmation of the alleged assault. The men were subsequently taken to the Ramol police station for legal action, according to the report.
A similar incident was reported at Gokul Party Plot in the Maninagar area. Two other men were reportedly participating in garba when Bajrang Dal members allegedly became suspicious and checked their identity documents. After claiming that the men belonged to another community, the activists detained them and handed them over to the Maninagar police.
The reported events took place amid heightened security arrangements for garba festivals across Gujarat. The Sandesh report said police had deployed security measures to prevent law-and-order problems during the festival. Hindu organisations had also publicly called for members of other communities to leave some garba venues, according to the report.
The incidents place responsibility for maintaining order at festival venues at the centre of the public-safety question. Private organisers and activist groups may raise concerns about security, but the supplied report does not state that the men were accused of committing a specific offence. It also does not provide details of any formal police case, charges, arrests or court proceedings against the four men.
The report said the Ramol and Maninagar police began legal proceedings after receiving the men. No statement from either police station, the event organisers or the four men was included in the supplied material. The next official step will depend on the police inquiries and on whether any formal complaints or cases are registered in connection with the reported incidents.
