Fresh violence broke out during a day long bandh on Wednesday over the demand for OBC quota for Patels in Gujarat even as curfew was clamped in parts of Ahmedabad, Surat and Mehsana districts and thousands of paramilitray and anti-riot personnel were deployed to control the situation.
Tension prevailed in major cities of Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot and in North Gujarat region, a day after violence erupted following detention of Hardik Patel, who is spearheading the agitation for inclusion of Patels in OBC category for reservation.
Normal life was paralysed as schools, colleges, business establishments including banks and public transport remained closed on Wednesday in most places in view of the bandh call by Patel after his brief detention on Tuesday when he was protesting for quota at the GMDC ground here without prior permission.
Incidents of arson and stone-pelting were reported in many parts of Surat city on Wednesday, when Patel community members came out in large numbers to “enforce” the bandh.
A mob of around 1,000 people burnt two warehouses of Surat Municipal Corporation in Udhna area of the city. Bikes, buses and vehicles were burnt at many places in the city, Suart control room police officials said.
The diamond and textile industries of Surat remained closed. The Centre has rushed about 5,000 personnel of Rapid Action Force, CRPF and BSF to assist the local administration in maintaining law and order.
“Extra state reserve police force (SRP) companies have been deployed in the city to bring the situation under control, while we have also sought deployment of central forces. They will be deployed as and when their companies arrive here,” Surat Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said.
A Police Sub-Inspector, identified as Mitesh Salunke, was severely injure, when a mob pelted stones in Lalgate area of the city during the violence last night.
In Saurashtra region, there was total bandh in major cities and towns of Rajkot, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar and Porbandar. Incidents of sporadic violence were reported in all the four districts during the bandh on Wednesday, police said.
Rajkot Superintendent of Police (Rural) Gagandeep Gambhir was injured in stone-throwing near Upleta road area, said a police official. MORE There was total bandh in Ahmedabad as schools, colleges, city bus service, business establishments including banks remained closed today. Most of the roads of the city wore a deserted look after last night’s violence.
Ahmedabad City Police Commissioner, Shivanand Jha said, “Police is working to bring law and order situation under control. There are no major incidents of violence in the city morning after curfew was imposed in nine police station areas of the city.”
There was complete bandh in most of the cities in North Gujarat also, while in Central Gujarat, including Vadodara, the bandh call evoked a mixed response.
In Vadodara, schools and colleges remained closed, but shops and commercial establishments were open. The bandh got a mixed response in Anand town too.
The members of Patel community indulged in arson and stone-pelting and vandalised public property last night after the detention of Hardik.
