Gujarat: Over 10 injured, vehicles damaged in clashes between tribals, Patels

Vasawa, along with five men went to the house of Praful Patel, and demanded the documents of the newly built house he had been staying in. Speaking to the Indian Express Praful Patel said, “the village sarpanch Mansukh Vasawa called me and came to my house and demanded the documents of my house. I told him to check it with the grampanchayat office, but he denied as a result of which, after heated exchange of arguments, they attacked on us and we also attacked on them. Late in the night, large number of youths belonging to tribal community came to our streets and damaged the vehicles.” Later Praful Patel alongwith his neighbours attacked  Mansukh Vasawa and five others, with wooden sticks. Mansukh and his supporters somehow managed to escape from the spot. Mansukh was immediately hospitalized as he had incurred head injuries. He was later shifted to Surat hospital where his condition is reported to be critical.

The news  spread like a wild fire in Old Chhapra and New Chhapra village. Over hundreds of youths belonging to the tribal community came out from their houses. The tribal youths  armed with wooden sticks and iron rods went into the streets and damaged the vehicles including cars and bikes. Ankleshwar police immediately rushed to the village and controlled the situation. Heavy police personnel was deployed in both Old chhapra and new Chhapra village, late on Sunday night to overcome any untoward incident. Over 10 persons including village Sarpanch Masukh Vasawa were injured in the incident.

Ankleshwar police inspector P G Narwade said, “The situation is under control in Old and new Chhapra village and we have deployed large number of police staff to overcome any untoward incident. We have registered complaint from both the parties. Alongwith the document story there also one more story which might have resulted in the conflict between Patels and tribals. The tribals are farm labourers working in the agricultural fields owned by Patels and the farm labourers had demanded over Rs. 250 as labour charges per day from the owners which they denied. The field owners started bringing the labours from other villages. We have started investigations into the incidents.”