Gandhinagar/ Mehsana
Patel community is back on the roads of Gujarat more aggressively for their demand of reservation and
release of their jailed leaders. A big rally organised by the community at Mehsana town today turned violent as police used lathicharge and fired teargas shells on the agitators who allegedly engaged in stone-pelting.
More than a dozen protesters have been injured and 500 have been taken into custody.
Fearing escalation of violence police have put ban on mobile and internet service in different part of the state
Curfew was imposed in Mehsana where violence broke out after police denied permission to protesters for a rally demanding the release of their leader Hardik Patel from jail.
Patel protesters had gathered at Modhera crossroad as part of the `Jail Bharo’ agitation announced by the Sardar Patel Group (SPG), one of the prominent groups seeking OBC quota for the Patel community.
SPG chief Lalji Patel received head injury during the face-off with the police.
Police claimed they resorted to lathicharge only after some persons started throwing stones at the police vehicles, Lalji Patel alleged that Patel agitators were targeted without any provocation.
“Our protest was peaceful as announced earlier. However, police suddenly hit me and some of our members when we were walking ahead of the procession. I was hit on head. You can see the blood on my face. We were beaten up without any provocation,” said Patel, who along with some other agitators were detained by the police subsequently.
Meanwhile, SPG as well as Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) have given a call for `Gujarat Bandh’ tomorrow.
Hardik patel file photo