BHAVNAGAR: Twelve people were injured in Bhavnagar on Monday when police bore down on sadhus of rival sects of the Swaminarayan order who were locked in a battle over construction activity. The Vadtal sadhus were opposing the construction of a temple wall by the BAPS sect near a road that they consider holy.

Eight sadhus and four police personnel were injured in the incident, as police used batons and tear gas to control the adversaries. The Vadtal sadhus and their followers took to the streets at about 1pm to fulminate against the Bochasanvasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha and police.  

The situation soon turned violent when the crowd, which now included BAPS sadhus, targeted the Gadhada police station. Police fired seven rounds in the air to disperse the mob. Harikrishna Patel, Bhavnagar’s superintendent of police, said, “Some sadhus also tried to immolate themselves by burning.” Peace returned to Bhavnagar later in the evening.