The Gujarat Police on Sunday imposed curfew in the North Gujarat town Mehsana as the 'Jail Bharo' programme organised by the Patels turned violent. The police took about 1,000 agitators into preventive custody.
Incidents of arson and clashes with police were also reported from several parts of the State. The police fired nearly 24 rounds of teargas shells in Mehsana to disperse the protesters. The agitating Patels also attacked the camp office of Gujarat's Minister of State
Rajni Patel in Mehsana. Due to agitation traffic on Ahmedabad-Mehsana highway was affected badly. Many agitators — including lalji Patel, the convener of the Sardar Patel Group (SPG) — were injured as the police resorted to lathi-charge on Modhera highway on the outskirts of Mehsana. lalji Patel was also taken to preventive custody. In protest against the police action, the SPG has given 'Gujarat Bandh' on Monday.
Two companies of State Reserve Police, four DYSP rank officials, and 30 Police Inspectors have been deployed in Modhera area where the police used water canon to control the situation.
According to SPG sources, lalji sustained head injury and was taken to hospital along with other injured pro-quota agitators. The police said they resorted to a lathicharge only after Patidar agitators started throwing stones at them. On the other hand, the injured SPG convener claimed that the police suddenly hit him and others even as the protest was peaceful. Source in State administration said apart from curfew, internet services have also suspended till Monday 6 am in Mehsana. The police and paramilitary forces have been given the stand-to order in Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Surat and other sensitive towns of the State.
Patidar agitators had sought permission to organise Jail Bharo programme for the release of Hardik Patel, the jailed convener of Patidar Anamat Anadolan Samiti (PASS). However, Mehsana district administration refused to give them permission.
According to newly-appointed in-charge DGP PP Pandey, the police had to take stern action only after the situation deteriorated as some people resorted to violence.