AHMEDABAD: Police arrested three persons and launched a manhunt for five others after a clash erupted over DJ music during a Scheduled Caste wedding procession in Chadrumana village of Gujarat’s Patan taluka, prompting action under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, officials said on Sunday.
The incident occurred on February 1, 2026, during the wedding procession of Ganpat Chavda's son. After the wedding rituals, a ras-garba programme with DJ music was organised at the village, located near the residence of one of the accused, identified as Bakuji Thakor.
According to the police investigation, members of the Thakor community objected to the DJ music, citing a period of mourning being observed in their community, and asked the wedding party to stop the music. When the complainant and the accused confronted each other over the issue, the heated argument escalated into a physical clash.
Following the incident, the complainant alerted the police through the emergency helpline 112. A police team rushed to the spot, brought the situation under control, and dispersed the crowd.
Subsequently, an FIR was registered against eight accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Gujarat Police Act, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Police said three accused, Bakuji Thakor, Jivanji Thakor, and one minor, have been arrested in connection with the case. “The remaining five accused are absconding, and dedicated teams have been formed to trace and arrest them at the earliest,” a senior police officer said.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Paresh Renuka told local media that the preliminary probe indicates the dispute may not have been triggered solely by caste considerations.
“At this stage, there appears to be no immediate casteist motive behind the incident. There has been a long-standing land-related dispute between the complainant and the accused. In 2022 also, a case under the Atrocities Act was registered following a clash between the same parties over land,” he said.
Police have deployed additional personnel in Chadrumana village as a precautionary measure to prevent any further escalation and to maintain law and order. “The situation is under control, and the investigation is ongoing from all angles,” officials added.