Violence erupts again at Seventh Day Adventist School: NSUI, Youth Congress workers clash with police

A day after violent riots and vandalism broke out at Seventh Day School in Khokhara following the murder of a student, the situation once again spiralled out of control on Thursday after NSUI and Youth Congress workers, joined by students, clashed with police outside the school.

On Wednesday, enraged locals and students had stormed the premises, vandalising classrooms, offices, school buses and equipment worth nearly ₹18 lakh. The school’s administrator, Mayurika Patel, lodged a complaint against a mob of over 400 to 500 people, prompting Khokhra police to register a case under charges of rioting, assault and damage to property.

Despite heightened police deployment, tensions flared again when NSUI and Youth Congress workers called for a lockdown of the school and tried to enforce a bandh in Maninagar and surrounding areas. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had separately announced a strike, calling for the closure of shops and schools in protest against the murder.

By noon, more than 400 students and activists had gathered outside the school, raising slogans of 'We Want Justice' and accusing the police of brutality. Traffic on one side of the road came to a standstill. As the crowd swelled, police resorted to baton charges and detentions. Several NSUI and Youth Congress leaders were bundled into police vans, while eyewitnesses alleged that even schoolchildren standing on the road were detained.

I Division ACP Krunal Desai said, “All those protesting outside the school have been detained. Complaints have been filed against 500 people for rioting and vandalism which happened on Wednesday, but no arrests have been made yet.”

Meanwhile, commercial establishments across Maninagar, Khokhra and Isanpur witnessed a mixed response to the bandh. While the Sindhi Market remained completely shut, several shopkeepers downed shutters only after groups of protesters forced closures, raising slogans of 'Jai Shri Ram' outside shops. Police had to intervene to prevent confrontations between business owners and protesters. Most of the schools located in the area also remained closed as a precaution.

Tensions spilt over into other parts of the city. In Maninagar, protesters attempted to shut down a private coaching centre, but backed down after staff resisted and threatened to record the incident on camera.

As the clashes continued, NSUI members accused the police of acting “like terrorists” while detaining workers. Several students claimed they were beaten during the baton charge.

The death of the Seventh Day School student has triggered outrage across the city, with political outfits seizing the issue to mobilise protests. The police, meanwhile, are struggling to maintain order while investigating both the murder and the large-scale violence that followed.