Curfew was today clamped in Mehsana town in Gujarat and mobile internet service banned as a massive rally of the Patel community demanding reservation and immediate release of their jailed leaders turned violent with two buildings being set ablaze and some police vehicles damaged. "We have imposed a curfew in Mehsana town till tomorrow morning. Mobile internet service has been suspended during this period. The violent mob set ablaze two government properties....a sub-divisional magistrate and a mamlatdar (revenue officer) were injured in the stone-pelting," said Lochan Sehra, Collector of Mehsana, 73 km from Ahmedabad.
A godown of Food Corporation of India and a district office were set on fire, police said, adding 15 persons have been detained in this connection.
Five policemen and two officials sustained injuries in the incidents, police said while agitators claimed that 25 of their supporters were injured in police action. In Surat, police detained 435 Patel agitators who hit the streets after learning about incidents in Mehsana. Surat police commissioner Ashish Bhatia said the situation was under control.
Mehsana (Gujarat): Clash between police and Patidar community demanding release of Hardik Patel (Earlier Visuals) pic.twitter.com/EF95XKL1oX
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 17, 2016
Mobile internet services were banned also in Surat and Rajkot as a precautionary measure, district authorities said.
Section 144 imposed, mobile internet services suspended till April 19th: Surat police commissioner Ashish Bhatia pic.twitter.com/PM4YPoOuEb
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 17, 2016
Varachha road(Surat): Clash between police & Patidar community demanding release of Hardik Patel, police use tear gas shells on protesters.
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 17, 2016