Ahmedabad police detained five individuals on Saturday for allegedly destroying Christmas decorations inside a prominent shopping centre in the city. The incident, which was captured on video and circulated online, occurred at the Palladium Mall located on SG Highway near Thaltej.
The Incident and Detention
According to authorities, the group entered the mall in the morning and began deliberately pulling down festive trees and other seasonal adornments. Police from the Vastrapur station responded to the call and took five persons into custody. A senior officer identified the accused as members of a lesser-known Hindu organisation named 'Bhagwa Sena'.
Inspector L L Chavda of Vastrapur police station confirmed the detentions but noted that a formal First Information Report (FIR) had not been filed at that point. The investigation was ongoing.
Mall Operations and Official Response
A source from the mall management assured that the act of vandalism did not disrupt regular business activities. "The police were called immediately, and they arrived promptly to handle the situation. Mall operations continued normally throughout the day," the source stated.
When questioned about deploying preventive security at malls across the city following the event, a top police official indicated that such measures were not deemed necessary at the time.
Bhagwa Sena's Stance
In a contrasting statement, the chief of Bhagwa Sena, Kamal Raval, asserted that his group does not oppose celebrations of any religion. However, he emphasised a demand for commercial spaces like malls to celebrate Hindu festivals with equal prominence throughout the year. The police have not commented on this specific claim as part of their ongoing inquiry into the vandalism case.
The swift action by Ahmedabad police highlights a firm response to acts of public property damage, regardless of the alleged motive. The incident has sparked conversations about festive decor and communal harmony in public spaces.
