Police detain seven for rioting in Borsad,security beefed up further

According to Borsad police Inspector K B Prajapati,the rioting started around 2 pm on Sunday. “Around 20 people were injured in the incident. The police had to fire three shells of tear gas to disburse the crowd. Additional police force was also called in to control the situation in the town,” he added.

Prajapati said the fight began after one Hasmukh Patel slipped and fell into a puddle of water with his two-wheeler. “According to cross complaint filed by one Ahmed Malik,Hasmukh was not careful enough and was about to hit pushcarts parked in the areas,” he added. Patel,however,alleged that Malik and others mocked at him when he fell and started threatening him.

Prajapati added that some of Patel’s friends who were standing nearby started arguing with Malik and his friends,which led to a fight. “In an hour’s time,about 1,500 people from both the communities started pelting stones. Both the communities were armed with swords and sharp objects.” Sources said the rioters outnumbered the police officers even as three tear gas shells were lobbed on the mobs. “We called in more force from Anand so that law and order could be maintained,” added Prajapati.

Meanwhile,Superintendent of Police A K Jadeja said the situation is completely under control now. “We are going to arrest the persons who were responsible for the riot. It is clear that some of the bystanders,who watched the argument between the motorist and the pushcart owner,provoked others to join the mob. We have deployed additional personnel in view of the Jagannath Yatra.”

As per the latest reports,the Borsad police picked up Hasmukh Patel,Ahmed Malik,Neeraj Patel,Manibhai Durbar,Kinjal Durbar,Iqbal Shiakh and one Zakirruddin on Monday evening for interrogation. The injured have been shifted to the Borsad Government Dispensary and Anand Government Hospital.