After a massive rally organised by Gujarat's economically and politically powerful Patel community demanding reservations in government jobs and educational institutes, police cracked down on the agitators and detained 21-year-old Hardik Patel, the leader of the Patel Andolan Anamat Samiti (PAAS), the group spearheading the movement.

The police swooped in late at night and disrupted the rally which had turned into an indefinite fast. The protestors had already turned violent with incidents of group clashes and stone throwing. They arrested Hardik Patel, on the claim that he did not take permission for a hunger strike. The arrest of the leader sparked violence around the state, the Patel community was up in arms, leading to clashes with the police and torching of public property. Three people were reportedly killed in Ahmedabad.

"He has been arrested because the organisers had not taken permission to hold the fast. The police permission was only for the rally and the gathering during the day," a police official told The Hindu

Earlier in the day the police had to resort to lathi charge and teargas shelling when clashes broke out between different groups within the Patel community.

Due to the violence that erupted as a cause of his arrest, the police were forced to release Hardik Patel after only a few hours in custody.

Hardik urged his community to maintain peace and clam. "I make an appeal to maintain peace and keep calm. I give a call for Gujarat bandh tomorrow, August 26," he said.

Ahmedabad: Police lathicharge Patel community members after their agitation for reservation turned violent