Jagannath Temple Incident: How a Stone Sparked Gujarat's 1969 Riots

• A minor incident near Jagannath Temple on September 18, 1969, involving a stone and an injured sadhu, ignited widespread violence.
• Rumors rapidly spread across Ahmedabad, escalating tensions and leading to riots that engulfed the city.
• The violence, initially in Ahmedabad, quickly spread to Vadodara, Mehsana, and Nadiad, causing extensive damage and displacement.
• The administration's slow response and late deployment of the army were cited as reasons for the uncontrolled spread of violence.
• The riots resulted in 512 deaths, thousands injured, over 6,000 homes and shops destroyed, and 15,000 people displaced, leaving a lasting impact on Gujarat's society and politics.