On being attacked, the protestors tried to flee, but were pursued by the followers who went after them with lathis. The followers also broke into nearby housing societies, ransacking and damaging property. The violence ended after more than half-an-hour.

“The ashram inmates just barged in and damaged at least 20 vehicles parked in our society complex,” said Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Stadium Villa Bungalows here. Soon, locals teamed up to target the followers, who were on their way to participate in the Guru Poornima celebrations.

Ahmedabad Joint Commissioner of Police Mohan Jha refused to comment on the role of the police. DIG J K Bhatt claimed that the situation was under control. The police, he claimed, “have arrested 10 to 15 people.” However, ashram administrator Uday Sangani was unavailable for comments.

Friday's violence was a fallout of the death of two schoolchildren — Dipesh Vaghela and Abhishek Vaghela — whose bodies were recovered on July 5 after they went missing from the ashram-run gurukul on July 3. Their parents alleged that the two were used for sorcery rites and done to death. The internal organs of one of the boys were missing, and both ears missing in the other, said family members.