Two buses, three bikes set afire on eve of Shinzo Abe’s Gujarat visit

The vehicles were targeted by a mob protesting against the detention of a few members of the Patidar community in Surat. Ripple effects of the violence were felt in Ahmedabad too.

A mob set two buses and three motorbikes afire to protest the detention of a few members of the Patidar community in Surat on Tuesday night, the eve of Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe’s two-day visit to Gujarat.

One of the buses set afire by Patidar protesters in Surat. (HT Photo)

The youngsters were taken into custody for allegedly protesting against a youth convention held by BJP youth wing president Rutvij Patel. Tension prevailed in Varachha, the diamond-polishing industry hub in Surat. Most of the workers in this industry are Patidars from Saurashtra.

Ripple effects of the Surat violence were witnessed at a public event held in Ahmedabad to celebrate the completion of the Sardar Sarovar Dam project on the Narmada river. Some youngsters reportedly began shouting slogans in support of the ongoing Patidar agitation for OBC status, disrupting the programme.

The authorities made several preventive detentions in Ahmedabad to ensure that no untoward incident takes place at a time when the city is decked up to welcome the Japanese premier. Reacting to the detention, Patidar agitation leader Hardik Patel tweeted: “There will be a stir in Gujarat if those detained are not released soon.”