Communal violence broke out in the Indian state of Gujarat, specifically in the cities of Bharuch and Surat, where Muslim communities became the targets of violent attacks, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.
The clashes left several people injured, including Muslim women and children, as tensions between Hindu and Muslim populations reached a boiling point.
According to Indian media reports, the unrest began when extremist Hindu groups opposed the installation of flags and banners in Muslim-majority areas to mark the celebration of Eid Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Armed with sticks and rods, the attackers chanted religious slogans such as "Jai Shri Ram" as they vandalized property, setting motorcycles on fire and damaging homes belonging to Muslims.
The situation rapidly escalated when some Eid flags were forcibly removed, provoking outrage among the local Muslim population.
The violence soon spread beyond Bharuch, with similar incidents being reported in Surat, exacerbating the communal strife in the region.
Law enforcement agencies were quick to respond, but the local police have faced severe criticism for allegedly siding with the Hindu attackers.
Instead of arresting the instigators of the violence, police detained 27 individuals, the majority of whom were Muslims.
This led to further accusations of bias against the authorities, deepening the divide between the two religious communities.
This is not the first time Gujarat has seen religious violence. Earlier this year, authorities in western India launched an investigation following reports of an attack by far-right Hindu nationalists on foreign students observing prayers during the holy month of Ramazan at Gujarat University.
The students, who hailed from countries including Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Tajikistan, were confronted by a group of 20-25 individuals who insisted that prayers be held in a mosque instead. The confrontation soon turned violent, resulting in stone-pelting and vandalism of the students' accommodations.
Two foreign students were injured in the incident, prompting the Ministry of External Affairs to promise strict action against those responsible.
As religious tensions continue to simmer, analysts have raised concerns over the growing polarisation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government.