(Image source from: Narendra Modi says ‘violence never done good for anyone’})
Indian PM Narendra Modi has urged people of his home state Gujarat to keep calm after Patel caste related protests and violence. He said that violence had "never done good for anyone. The only way forward is to have a peaceful dialogue”
In Gujarat, a curfew has been imposed after clashes between influential Patel community members, demanding OBC quota for education opportunities and government jobs, and police besides local people.
Bandh on Wednesday
Bandh was observed by the Patel community on Wednesday when Ahmedabad was virtually shut down. Mobile Internet services were shut down, while businesses and Schools are closed. Public transport was cancelled in other parts of Gujarat along with Ahmedabad.
Also read: Indian state blocks mobile internet services for nearly 63 million people
Violence in Gujarat
About 40 police stations have been set ablaze. A father and son were reportedly killed among others. Fresh clashes occurred in the cities of Surat, Ahmedabad, Rajkot besides Banaskantha district on Wednesday. According to police, around 70 buses were set to fire by the protesters.
The violence began late on Tuesday when police briefly detained Patel community leader Hardik Patel, who lead a massive rally hours before in Ahmedabad.
PC Thakur, Gujarat police chief, told the AFP news agency that a minimum of dozen officers were injured because of the violence and thus curfew was laid across various cities and districts in the state.
