Ahmedabad: The police have arrested 342 people from Gujarat for allegedly attacking non-Gujaratis, following the rape of a 14-month-old girl in Sabarkantha district.

Most of the people who were attacked hailed from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They were targeted and hate messages were spread against them on social media after it was revealed that the rapist was from Bihar.

Director General of Police Shivanand Jha said, “Six districts have mainly been affected (by the violence), with Mehsana and Sabarkantha being the worst hit. In these districts, 42 cases have been lodged and so far we have arrested 342 accused. More arrests will be made as names of the accused come up during investigation”.

He also added that 17 companies of State Reserve Police have been deployed in the areas.

Gandhinagar has been the worst-affected district, and police officials have been directed to organise camps and communicate with local leaders to make the people stay there.

On September 28, a 14-month-old girl was allegedly raped in a village near Himmatnagar town of Sabarkantha district. A labourer hailing from Bihar working in a local factory, Ravindra Sahu, was arrested the same day for the toddler's rape.