Three people have been arrested and around 20 others booked after a public reading session featuring books by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai and Holocaust survivor Anne Frank was allegedly attacked by a group of men at AUDA Garden in Ahmedabad's Vastrapur area on Thursday evening, 28 August. Several participants reportedly sustained injuries in the assault, and an FIR has been registered at Vastrapur Police Station.

What Happened at AUDA Garden

Between 20 and 50 students, lawyers, media professionals and others had gathered from around 4 pm for a silent reading session organised through social media. The books on the reading list included Yousafzai's 'I Am Malala', Frank's 'The Diary of a Young Girl', and works by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.

At approximately 6:30 pm, a group of 30 to 40 men wearing saffron scarves allegedly entered the garden carrying wooden and iron sticks, bats and other objects. According to the complaint filed by local entrepreneur Jaykumar Thakkar, the group questioned participants over their choice to read Yousafzai's book before the situation escalated into a physical confrontation.

Injuries and Alleged Assault

Participants identified as Jay, Sneh, Savan and Shashi were allegedly assaulted with sticks, bats, punches and kicks, according to the complaint. Another participant, Swati, was allegedly pulled by her hair, while a woman named Maitreyee was allegedly slapped. Some of those injured later received outpatient treatment at Sola Civil Hospital.

Police Action and FIR Details

Vastrapur Police Inspector Gita Chaudhary confirmed that six people had been identified based on CCTV footage, of whom three have been arrested. An FIR was registered under Sections 189(1), 191(2), 191(3), 190, 115(2), 351(2) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The case names two accused and a mob of approximately 18 unidentified persons.

'Twenty people have been booked in the incident. Further investigation is underway to establish all the facts and record statements,' Inspector Chaudhary said.

Investigators are examining additional video footage and recording witness statements to identify the remaining individuals allegedly involved. The police said further lawful action would follow as the investigation progresses.

Alleged Affiliation and Bajrang Dal's Response

Participants alleged that the men who disrupted the session claimed affiliation with the Bajrang Dal and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). Bajrang Dal coordinator Jwalit Mehta defended the opposition to the event, saying the organisation would oppose platforms promoting individuals it considers anti-national, citing Yousafzai's stated position on Kashmir.

This comes amid a broader controversy involving a local school, where action had reportedly been taken over a dispute about the reading of Yousafzai's and Frank's books — the same backdrop that prompted organisers to hold Thursday's public session.

Background and Context

The incident has drawn attention to the recurring tension in India around the public reading and promotion of certain international titles. Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani education activist who survived a Taliban assassination attempt in 2012 and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, has been a controversial figure in some Indian right-wing circles due to her public comments on Kashmir. Anne Frank's diary, a canonical work on the Holocaust, has rarely faced objection in India and its inclusion in the reading list has added a layer of complexity to the episode.

As the investigation widens, the case is likely to draw scrutiny over the application of BNS provisions to mob violence at public cultural gatherings.