(Image source from: Patel community agitation turns violent in Ahmedabad)

The agitation of Patel community seeking OBC reservation has turned violent on Tuesday with clashes in various parts of Ahmedabad. To control the situation at these locations, police resorted to baton-charging besides lobbing teargas shells.

Patel community members tried to put in force a bandh called by Hardik Patel, community leader, after the mega rally. During this enforcement, clashes arouse between them and local residents in areas like Paldi, Vastrapur, Vadaj and Nikol.

According to police, when Patel community members on scooters and bikes tried to enforce bandh in Vadaj area, Dalit community local residents resisted. This resulted in stone-pelting and clashes between the communities.

D R Dhamal, city control room's police inspector, said, "Police lobbed a tear-gas shell and also baton-charged crowd when two groups of Patels and dalits clashed with each other.”

Another police official said that after Patel community protesters used force to shut down shops, clashes were reported in Nikol, Vastrapur and Paldi areas. Patel community youths in large groups went around on various Ahmedabad roads on two-wheelers. They were reportedly wielding sticks to enforce the bandh.

Hardik Patel, the convener of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti said "The police have done wrong by beating protesters of the Patel community in Paldi and Mansi cross road in Vastrapur.”

-Sumana