In the last couple of days, attacks on non-Gujarati speaking people were reported from many parts of the state.

Gujarat Police on Sunday arrested over 300 people in connection with the attacks on migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in the state over the rape of a minor girl.

"So far 342 people have been arrested. More arrests would be made as the investigation proceeds. We are determined to find out those responsible for these attacks," Director General of Police Shivanand Jha told media.

Mahesana district was the worst affected by the violence where 89 arrests were made on the basis of 15 complaints.

A total of 42 complaints of attacks were registered from seven districts of the state.

The DIG said that security has been beefed up in the affected areas and policemen have been asked to hold meetings in affected villages to receive cooperation from locals, build confidence and gather more inputs for the probe.

Six people were also arrested by the cyber cell unit. Jha said some people with vested interests were spreading hatred against people from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh on social media platforms. "We have alerted the cyber cell to remain vigilant and nab such people," he said.

He, however, added that some migrants might have left for festivals like Navratri, Durga Puja and Chhath and these should not be considered as a result of fleeing out of fear.

REASON FOR ATTACKS

In the last couple of days, attacks on non-Gujarati speaking people have been reported from many parts of the state.

As a result, hundreds of people from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have been returning to their native states to escape the attacks. The fear has aggravated since people with vested interests are openly issuing threats on social media and these messages are reportedly being widely circulated in Gujarat.

The exodus started after police arrested a man, a native of Bihar, for allegedly raping a 14-month-old girl in Sabarkantha, around 100 km from Ahmedabad. Soon after the arrest, angry locals started attacking non-Gujarati speaking people in the state.

Local groups started threatening people and vandalizing properties of non-Gujarati speaking communities. In some cases, properties were also gutted. Similar incidents were reported from other areas too. Some people fleeing the state had claimed that they were attacked by Thakor Sena members.

CONGRESS MLA ALPESH THAKOR SAYS HE'S NOT RESPONSIBLE

Amid all this, Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor, who heads the Kshatriya Thakor Sena, rubbished allegations that held him responsible for creating tensions and fanning the flames of enmity between Gujaratis and non-Gujaratis.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Alpesh Thakor said, "This is unfortunate. We have never advocated violence and only talked of peace. All Indians are safe in Gujarat."

Meanwhile, he has also announced a 'sadbhavna' (goodwill) fast from October 11 if the government does not withdraw "false cases" registered against his supporters in the wake of the attacks.

He said the fast will be held to protest the "government's attempt to malign him and his supporters" over the violence.

Last week, Thakor had raked up the issue of non-Gujaratis while demanding "justice" for the rape survivor. He had demanded that local people be given preference in jobs in industries in Gujarat.

(With inputs from Gopi Maniyar in Ahmedabad and PTI)

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