Sources said arsonists succeeded in torching a wall of a prayer hall in the Dhadwada village around 11 p.m. on Sunday. The police allegedly refused to register a complaint when the villagers went to the Mandvi Police Station on Monday. Instead, the police and government authorities reportedly went to the spot and discouraged villagers from filing a complaint.

Talking to Express Newsline, District Superintendent of Police B D Vaghela said there was no damage to the prayer hall and that only a couple of burnt rags were found outside the prayer hall.

Vaghela said t he incident might have been blown up to win police protection for the village'', he said, adding that police had since been posted outside the prayer hall.