The Gujarat Police on Sunday imposed curfew on the north Gujarat town of 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 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 the agitatio, 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 lathicharge on Modhera highway on the outskirts of Mehsana. lalji Patel too was taken to preventive custody. In protest against the police action, the SPG has given ‘Gujarat Bandh’ call on Monday.
Two companies of State Reserve Police, four DSP rank officials, and 30 Police Inspectors have been deployed in Modhera area where the police used water cannon 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 been suspended in Mehsana till Monday 6 am. The police and paramilitary forces have been given the standing order in Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Surat and other sensitive towns of the State.
Patidar agitators had sought permission to organise Jail Bharo programme to push 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 the newly-appointed DGP, PP Pandey, the police had to take stern action only after the situation deteriorated as some people resorted to violence. “We are trying to take situation in control and kept additional force ready if required,” said Pandey.
Meanwhile, State Government spokesperson Nitin Patel and ruling BJP’s State president Vijay Rupani appealed to people to maintain peace in the State.
Patidars are demanding reservation in Government jobs and educational institutes under OBC category since July last year. A public rally in August 2015 at GMDC ground turned violent and since then the agitation has spread across the state. At least 10 people lost their life in the post GMDC rally.