10 injured as two groups clash

Nearly 10 people were injured in clashes between two groups over feeding pigs in Hatkeshwar area of Ahmedabad on Thursday morning. Four of them are still in hospital. “I followed my everyday routine of feeding the pigs at the backyard. Two men,Laljibhai and KanjiBhai from the Rabari community,started hitting me after telling me not to put the pig’s food on roadside. A huge mob of 30 to 40 Rabaris came towards me and hit me on the head with a pipe. I tried to escape,but they started hitting me even harder,” says Sandeep Pawar,one of the victims. Pawar was admitted to LG hospital,but was later moved to VS Hospital for neurosurgical reference because of the head injury.

Surekha Pawar,Pawar’s wife,who was also beaten up,said,“My family ran to save my husband,but they hit us as well. They did not even spare women. They just went on hitting people who came their way. We belong to the Kunchikaikari community and our business is to sell pigs. We never had any bitter experience with the Rabaris earlier. This was the first time they attacked us.”

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Jitendra Gohil,Casualty Medical Officer at LG Hospital,said “Ten people had been admitted with severe to minor injuries,who were discharged in an hour. Three of them were transferred to V S Hospital for further treatment because they may have minor haemorrhage because of the head injury.”

When contacted,Police Inspector J G Sheikh of Khohkra Police Station,said,“A member from the Rabari community told Sandeep not to offer meat to the pigs on the road and after this the clashes began. Kanji Rabari and others started beating Sandeep after a heated argument. Actually,both the communities are at fault. No one has been arrested till now. We have taken statements from both the communities and the investigation is still in progress.”