On 16 April 2020, a vigilante group lynched two Hindu Sadhus and their driver in Gadchinchale, Palghar District, Maharashtra, India. The incident was fuelled by WhatsApp rumours of thieves operating in the area during the countrywide coronavirus lockdown. The vigilante group of villagers had mistaken the three passengers as thieves and killed them. Policemen who intervened were also attacked; four policemen and a senior police officer were injured.
As of 4 May, 115 villagers had been arrested by the Maharashtra police on charges of murder and an investigation was ongoing. After the incident, rumours were spread to increase religious tension. On 22 April, Maharashtra Home Minister, Anil Deshmukh posted a complete list of people arrested, stating that none of the arrested were Muslims.[1][2] The government said that both the attackers and the victims were of same religion.[3]
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