Ahmedabad Student Group Alleges Bajrang Dal Members Assaulted Participants at Reading Event

AHMEDABAD, August 28, 2026: A student-led collective in Ahmedabad has alleged that participants at a peaceful reading session in Vastrapur were assaulted and threatened after a group of men, identified by the organisers as Bajrang Dal members, disrupted the gathering on August 27.

The Student and Youth Collective Ahmedabad (SYCA), which organised the event jointly with volunteer group Gujarat Reads Anyway, condemned what it described as an attack on participants exercising their right to assemble peacefully and engage with books and ideas.

The organisers said the event, held at AUDA Garden, was publicly announced as a non-political gathering where participants could read books and discuss the works of writers, thinkers and activists. Around 40 students and local residents attended the session, which began at 4 pm. Journalists from several media organisations were also present.

Books available at the gathering included The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank and I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai, as well as books on Indian figures such as Bhagat Singh and Jawaharlal Nehru.

According to SYCA, a group of men carrying hockey sticks arrived at the entrance of the garden around 5.30 pm. The organisation said the men identified themselves as members of the Bajrang Dal and were carrying orange flags and scarves.

SYCA alleged that the group began raising religious slogans and questioned participants about the purpose of the gathering, particularly objecting to the reading of Malala Yousafzai's book.

Organisers said participants attempted to defuse the situation by explaining the purpose of the event and showing the group books on Bhagat Singh and Nehru. However, according to the SYCA statement, the exchange escalated into shouting, threats and physical violence.

The organisation alleged that several participants were pushed, punched, kicked and struck with sticks, resulting in injuries.

SYCA named Jay Thakkar, M. Shashi Kumar, Savan Zalariya and Sneh Bhavsar among those allegedly assaulted. It claimed that Thakkar was dragged out of the park and beaten, while Bhavsar also sustained injuries.

The organisation further alleged that books, including those on Bhagat Singh, were torn during the confrontation.

According to SYCA, participants did not retaliate and instead attempted to calm the situation. It said Thakkar suggested that those present sing the national anthem in an effort to ease tensions. The organisation alleged that the confrontation continued even after the anthem, with participants being accused of disrespecting national symbols.

SYCA also alleged that women participants were subjected to intimidation and assault. It claimed that Swati Goswami was pulled by her hair and arm, while Maitry Chhaiya was slapped.

Another participant, Aadhya Chhatrola, was allegedly recording the incident when she was threatened and warned against continuing to film. SYCA claimed she was threatened with being made to “disappear”.

The collective said it had video recordings that it believes support its account of the incident.

SYCA also raised questions over the police response, alleging that injured participants were taken to Vastrapur police station while those accused of assault were not detained at the same time.

The organisation said participants subsequently filed a First Information Report (FIR) against members allegedly involved in the assault. It expressed disappointment over the subsequent release on bail of three people accused of involvement.

SYCA has called for a thorough investigation and stronger police action against those responsible for the alleged violence.

The collective said the reading session was intended to promote critical thinking, free expression and engagement with diverse ideas. It maintained that participants had no objection to dialogue or disagreement but alleged that the group that confronted them had arrived prepared for a confrontation.

“We strongly condemn this completely unprovoked violence,” SYCA said, adding that the incident would not deter young people and civil society members from exercising their right to peaceful assembly and engaging with books and ideas.

“The youth and broader civil society will not be silenced by this violence,” the organisation said.

By Catholic Connect Reporter