Looting, arson leads to bandh, Junagadh tense

A mob looted and set ablaze 26 shops owned by the minority community in Kodinar town of Junagadh district on Monday night. The mob was retal...

A mob looted and set ablaze 26 shops owned by the minority community in Kodinar town of Junagadh district on Monday night. The mob was retaliating to the alleged torching of a gift shop owned by the local Bajrang Dal chief on Sunday.

While a bandh called by Hindu leaders went off peacefully, a mob gathered around 11 pm and indulged in violence till 4 am.

About Sunday’s incident, Bajrang Dal chief Balubhai Jadhav cited short circuit as the cause of fire at his shop near government hospital. He reportedly sustained burns while putting out the fire. Kodinar BJP MLA Dinubhai Solanki alleged that Jadhav was told to cite short circuit to prevent communal tension.

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When police arrested 53 rioters, Hindus again gave a bandh call on Tuesday. Solanki said the town would observe a bandh on Wednesday as well in protest against police atrocities and ‘‘arrest of the innocents.’’

Meanwhile, police recovered weapons and inflammable material from the mob. Swords, cutters, kerosene and gas cylinders were recovered.