Gujarat: Clashes at Patel protest for Hardik’s release, curfew imposed

Patidar protesters demanding the release of their leader, Hardik Patel, clashed with police in Gujarat’s Mehsana district on Sunday, injuring scores, setting a bus on fire and ransacking a minister’s office.

Patidar protesters demanding the release of their leader, Hardik Patel, clashed with police in Gujarat’s Mehsana on Sunday, injuring scores, setting a bus on fire and ransacking a minister’s office.

In this file photo, Patidar leader Hardik Patel raises his fist near the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel during a rally in Ahmedabad. The 22-year-old has been in jail since October. (AFP)

Authorities clamped a curfew in the district and blocked mobile internet services, while Patidars called a state-wide bandh on Monday.

Violence broke out after demonstrators from the community, which wants reservation in education and government jobs, were stopped on way to a prison where they wanted to court arrest.

They vandalised the office of minister of state for home, Rajnikant Patel, even as police used tear gas shells.

Read: Quota stir: Hardik Patel detained on way to cricket stadium

In July last year, Patidars in Gujarat launched an agitation demanding that OBC status be accorded to them.

Seven Patidar youth died in August and property worth Rs 40 crore was damaged in clashes with police. Their stir put the state’s BJP government on a sticky wicket.

Read: Four months on, Hardik Patel struggling to keep quota stir alive

But, tension flared up on Sunday, with thousands under the banner of the Sardar Patel Group launching a fresh protest after their talks with the government failed on April 11.

SPG convener Lalji Patel said the ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ was organised as their one-month ultimatum to the government to concede to a 27-point charter of demands expired with “no favourable result”.

Mehsana collector Lochan Sehra said the district administration served notice against the campaign terming it “illegal”.