Four cops suspended, eight arrested in Surat, Tapi

Surat: Eight people including a local BJP leader were arrested while four policemen suspended as videos of crowded pre-wedding celebrations in Surat and Tapi districts went viral on social media
Two policemen were suspended and four persons arrested after a video of a massive crowd dancing at a pre-wedding party in Verakui village of Surat district went viral on social media on Wednesday night.
Mangrol police arrested four persons including a local BJP leader, the father of the bride, for flouting the Covid-19 rules amid a major surge in infections. Rural areas of Surat are reporting close to 100 cases daily for the past several days.
Head constable Hemant Bawabhai and constable Suhas Shripad were suspended by Surat district superintendent of police (DSP) Usha Rada.
On Thursday, police arrested Idrish Malek, Maqsood Malek, Haresh Gamit and Girish Vasava and they were released on bail later. They were booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) including 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life). The accused were booked under sections of the Gujarat Police Act and The Disaster Management Act.
In the videos, villagers are seen in large numbers dancing and playing garba to the tune of DJ music. While social distancing was obviously absent, the majority of the participants had not even worn masks.
“Usually, Muslims don’t organize musical parties in marriage functions, but it was the wish of my villagers. Hence, I invited all. It was a small function,” Idrish Malek told TOI.
A similar incident was reported in Velda village of Tapi district’s Nizar taluka and the video of a pre-wedding revelry went viral. Covid-19 rules went for a complete toss as a huge crowd danced to DJ tunes. Investigation revealed that the video was of Tuesday’s event organized by Joga Padvi, a peon in a local school, for his daughter’s wedding. Police registered an office and arrested Padvi, Dilip Kotwadiya and Ashish Vasava, operators of a music band. Two cops of Nizar police station - sub-inspector ZN Bhoye and head constable Ganpatsinh Bariya were suspended by Tapi DSP Sujata Majmudar.