Ahmedabad: Seven people have been killed in the violence across the western Indian state of Gujarat sparked off by the Patel community’s stir demanding reservation. The administration has deployed army to control the situation.
Violence erupted after the police held the leader of agitation, Hardik Patel, briefly on August 25 night in Ahmedabad, the state’s commercial capital.
Five people were killed Tuesday night in Ahmedabad, two of them allegedly in police firing after protesters clashed with cops. Two people were killed in Palanpur in north Gujarat on Wednesday, both allegedly in police firing.
Curfew was clamped in several parts of Ahmedabad. Schools and colleges were closed Wednesday. The administration has said they and will remain closed Thursday also. The Army held flag marches in different parts of the city.
Curfew has also been imposed in Surat, which is tense after incidents of arson, damage to government property and clashes Wednesday morning. Schools and colleges will remain closed there also on Thursday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for calm in Gujarat. “Violence does not benefit anybody,” Modi said in an appeal on television, adding, “We must work together to solve problems through talks.”
Hardik Patel is leading a movement by the powerful Patel or Patedar caste that wants reservation in government jobs and colleges.
The state government led by Chief Minister Anandiben has rejected the demand saying Gujarat has already hit the 50 percent cap on reservation set by the Supreme Court.
Hardik Patel says the Patedars have to find room in the state’s list of “reserved” categories. Patel had called for strike all over the state on Wednesday.
More than a 100 buses were set on fire overnight and property damaged in the violence in Ahmedabad, Surat and Mehsana cities and the towns of Unjha and Visnagar, senior local officers said.
The federal government has rushed about 5,000 paramilitary personnel to Gujarat and federal Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Anandiben Patel Wednesday morning, assuring her of all help.
Internet services on mobile phones have been suspended in some parts of the state to check the spread of rumors through WhatsApp and SMS. Internet can be accessed on computers in homes and offices.
Meanwhile, Gujarat’s Leader of the Opposition Shankarsinh Vaghela demanded resignation of the chief minister for failing to control the situation.
According to police sources, more than 50 buses were torched, while many government properties were targeted by the angry mobs, who were upset with the police crackdown on agitators.
After his release from the custody, Hardik Patel appealed for peace but slammed the police for brutal crackdown in which several media persons were also beaten up.
He, subsequently, announced that the entire State would observe strike on Wednesday.
Hardik Patel, Patel reservation, Gujarat bandh