AMN
Curfew has been imposed in Mehsana city in Gujarat after ‘Jail bharo’ agitation of Patidar turned violent. Mehsana District Collector Lochan Shehra said, curfew and internet ban has been imposed in Mehsana city till 6 AM Monday.
District authorities of Mehsana and Surat have also banned mobile internet services to check the spread of rumors. Prohibitory orders under article 144 have also been imposed. More than 200 trips of state transport buses coming and going through Mehsana and Patan have been canceled.
Mehsana District Collector said, situation worsened after agitators belonging to Sardar Patel Group held march towards the district sub-jail despite no permission granted to them. He said, when police tried to stop the rally, the agitators pelted stones on police.
Police had to fire teargas shells and use lathicharge to control the agitators. He said the mob damaged government properties and torched police vehicles.
Police also detained more than 400 patidar agitators from Surat while indulging in violence.
Surat Police Commissioner Ashish Bhatia said law and order situation in Surat is totally under control and peaceful. Internet has also been banned in Surat and article 144 has been clamped on precautionary measures.
Security has been strengthened and police force has been deployed in Ghatlodiya, Vastral and some other areas of the Ahmedabad on precautionary measures.
Senior Gujarat Minister and state BJP president Vijay Rupani has termed the violent incident in Mehsana as unfortunate. He appealed the agitators to maintain peace.
Meanwhile, State Chief Secretary and In-charge DGP have held high level meeting and reviewed the law and order situation in the state. Additional companies of State Reserve Police Force have been kept ready to maintain law and order situation in view of tomorrow’s Gujarat Bandh-call given by Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti.