Trains cancelled after reports of sporadic violence in parts of Gujarat

In Surat’s Kapodara area, police fired five rounds when a mob went to close down a textile mill to ensure total bandh. This even as the area was under curfew.

Dindoli area of Surat witnessed a stabbing incident and clashes between migrants and Patidars. In some places in Surat and Rajkot looting and plundering was reported. In Surat, a UBI bank ATM was broken and looted.

The bandh in all major cities was total, with the transport services, malls, grocery stores and in some areas, even hospitals and pharmacy shops, remained shut.

Western part of Rajkot remained on the boil as violent mobs burnt tyres near Mavadi Chowk on 150 feet Ring Road on Wednesday morning and police had to resort to mild lathi-charge to disperse the rioters.

A big mob assembled outside Gandhigram police station on northern section of 150 feet Ring Road at around noon and held a meeting. They also blocked traffic for a while. But after persuasion by police, the mob dispersed. Gangs riding motorcycles drove on main roads of the city to enforce bandh. They vandalised the office of a regional language paper in Kisanpara Chowk and broke into an ATM booth on Yagnik Road.

Meanwhile, Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) said that six bus stops on its BRTS corridors were gutted after rioters set them on fire while five others were vandalised. Mob attacked two BRTS buses and broke its windows. On Wednesday morning, rioters were seen trying to loot scrap from the burnt bus stops even as police and private security guards chased them. A private bus was set on fire near Kotharia flyover while a Volvo bus of Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) was also damaged near Kuvadva last night, police said.

Gandhigram police inspector RR Solanki, a police sub-inspector and two constables were injured after they were hit by stones while trying to control a mob at Indira Circle on 150 feet road last night.

Mobs also vandalised West Zone office of RMC and set on fire two private cars parked there.

“The situation is under control. One company of Rapid Action Force is reaching the city in the evening. There is much damage in the Malaviyanagar police station area but we have issued prohibitory orders to control the situation. Rajkot collector has ordered suspension of mobile internet services,” Rajkot city police commissioner Mohan Jha said.

In Morbi, mobs continued to roam in Patidar dominated localities like Sanal Road, Vavadi Road and Mahendranagar on Wednesday after going on the rampage the previous evening. Morbi SP Rajan Sushra confirmed that rioters had burnt two mobile police vans, office of a circle police inspector, a police chowky, and 13 buses of GSRTC last night.

“We have just held a meeting with leaders of Patidar community and the situation is under control,” said Sushra.

There were reports of violence from Jamnagar, Junagadh and Bhavnagar districts also. A violent group set on fire a dump-truck in Patidar-dominated Ranjitnagar area of Jamnagar while mob vandalised a private school in Junagadh and tried to damage railway track near Janjarda area. In Bhanvagar, policemen came under stone-pelting in Nirmalnagar area and cops had to lathi-charge the crowd.

Dinesh Jethva, Rajkot divisional controller of GSRTC said that rioters set on fire 13 buses in a workshop in Morbi and vandalised 10 others. In all, 37 buses were completely gutted while 45 others were partially damaged. Junagadh division also said that eight buses were burnt and 11 were vandalised even as Bhesan station was reduced to ashes after mob set it on fire. Amreli division also lost four buses.

However, Amreli, Gir Somnath, Botda, Porbandar, Devbhoomi Dwarka and Surendranagar districts in Saurashtra remained relatively calm on Wednesday. Mobile internet services were suspended in Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Morbi districts for two days.