Seven dead in Gujarat violence, army called in

Curfew clamped in parts of Ahmedabad and other major cities across the Indian state

Seven people have been killed as protesters clashed with the police in parts of Gujarat after the brief detention of 21-year-old Hardik Patel last night in Ahmedabad. The city is tense and the Army is holding flag marches, reports agencies.
Apprehending more trouble, curfew was clamped in parts of Ahmedabad and other major cities across the state during the day. Apart from Ahmedabad, curfew had been clamped in Surat, Mehsana, Rajkot, Jamnagnar and Patan cities.
“Police have recovered bodies of three persons who were suspected to have been killed in violence spread across the city,” police spokesman N D Trivedi said.
According to a senior police official, two persons died in police firing in Vastral area, while body of a man was found in Ghatlodia in the city.
“Girish Patel (47) and his son Siddharth Patel (20) were killed in police firing late last night,” he said.
The Army was called in on Wednesday as an agitation by Gujarat’s Patidar community for reservation left three people dead in the state amidst spiraling violence across the state despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s called for calm.
The Centre also rushed additional paramilitary forces to state to take control of the law and order situation after the leader of the community vowed to intensify their agitation, which has seen large scale violence since Tuesday, forcing authorities to clamp prohibitory orders in several places.
The leader of the Patidars, commonly known as the Patels, however, blamed police of orchestrating the violence.
“They (police) are indulging in violence. Police are beating (up) mothers, sisters and small children. They are doing it the same way it is done in UP and Bihar,” said Hardik Patel, spearheading the agitation under the banner of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS).
As many as 100 buses were torched and property damaged in the violence in Ahmedabad, Surat and Mehsana cities and the towns of Unjha and Visnagar, officials said. Incidents of stone-pelting were also reported on Wednesday morning from Ahmedabad.
Patel, who shot into limelight with a massive rally in the capital on Tuesday, said he has no political affiliation.
“We have urged people to restore peace. We urge the same to the government and police. If even a single person is beaten, then the government and the police will be responsible for the consequences,” NDTV quoted him as saying.
Rejecting suggestions that the protesters started the violence, he alleged that the police were trying to “disrupt” the movement at the behest of the political establishment.
“I haven’t said anything provocative. We will continue our movement on path of non-violence. We are urging to restore peace. If needed strikes and fast will happen everywhere,” the 22-year-old leader said.
Agitating members of the Patel community indulged in arson and stone pelting and vandalised public property on Tuesday night after brief detention of Hardik Patel after a rally attended by an estimated half-a-million people.
Fresh violence broke out during a day-long bandh on Wednesday called by him even as curfew was clamped in parts of Ahmedabad, Surat and Mehsana districts and thousands of paramilitary and anti-riot personnel were deployed to control the situation.
Normal life was paralysed in several parts of Gujarat as schools, colleges, business establishments including banks and public transport remained closed in view of the bandh.

 

Seven dead in Gujarat violence, army called in

Curfew clamped in parts of Ahmedabad and other major cities across the Indian state

Seven people have been killed as protesters clashed with the police in parts of Gujarat after the brief detention of 21-year-old Hardik Patel last night in Ahmedabad. The city is tense and the Army is holding flag marches, reports agencies. Apprehending more trouble, curfew was clamped in parts of Ahmedabad and other major cities across the state during the day. Apart from Ahmedabad, curfew had been clamped in Surat, Mehsana, Rajkot, Jamnagnar and Patan cities. Police have recovered bodies of three persons who were suspected to have been killed in violence spread across the city, police spokesman N D Trivedi said. According to a senior police official, two persons died in police firing in Vastral area, while body of a man was found in Ghatlodia in the city. Girish Patel (47) and his son Siddharth Patel (20) were killed in police firing late last night, he said. The Army was called in on Wednesday as an agitation by Gujarats Patidar community for reservation left three people dead in the state amidst spiraling violence across the state despite Prime Minister Narendra Modis called for calm. The Centre also rushed additional paramilitary forces to state to take control of the law and order situation after the leader of the community vowed to intensify their agitation, which has seen large scale violence since Tuesday, forcing authorities to clamp prohibitory orders in several places. The leader of the Patidars, commonly known as the Patels, however, blamed police of orchestrating the violence. They (police) are indulging in violence. Police are beating (up) mothers, sisters and small children. They are doing it the same way it is done in UP and Bihar, said Hardik Patel, spearheading the agitation under the banner of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS). As many as 100 buses were torched and property damaged in the violence in Ahmedabad, Surat and Mehsana cities and the towns of Unjha and Visnagar, officials said. Incidents of stone-pelting were also reported on Wednesday morning from Ahmedabad. Patel, who shot into limelight with a massive rally in the capital on Tuesday, said he has no political affiliation. We have urged people to restore peace. We urge the same to the government and police. If even a single person is beaten, then the government and the police will be responsible for the consequences, NDTV quoted him as saying. Rejecting suggestions that the protesters started the violence, he alleged that the police were trying to disrupt the movement at the behest of the political establishment. I havent said anything provocative. We will continue our movement on path of non-violence. We are urging to restore peace. If needed strikes and fast will happen everywhere, the 22-year-old leader said. Agitating members of the Patel community indulged in arson and stone pelting and vandalised public property on Tuesday night after brief detention of Hardik Patel after a rally attended by an estimated half-a-million people. Fresh violence broke out during a day-long bandh on Wednesday called by him even as curfew was clamped in parts of Ahmedabad, Surat and Mehsana districts and thousands of paramilitary and anti-riot personnel were deployed to control the situation. Normal life was paralysed in several parts of Gujarat as schools, colleges, business establishments including banks and public transport remained closed in view of the bandh.