Army called in as 6 killed in Gujarat

Six people have been killed, five in police firing, in the violence across India's Gujarat sparked off by the Patel community's agitation demanding other backward class (OBC) status. The Army has now been called in to control the situation.

The violence kicked off on Tuesday night following the arrest of Hardik Patel, who is spearheading the campaign. A bandh has been declared across Gujarat yesterday. Hardik Patel was released later.

A few areas in Ahmedabad, Surat, Mehsana, Visnagar, and Unjha are under curfew, while in other places paramilitary forces have been deployed to ensure law and order situation in the State. In north Gujarat mobs set fire to the offices of a minister and two MLAs. Two bank ATMs have also been set on fire.

Internet services have been suspended in Ahmedabad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for peace yesterday after the mass rally in his home state turned violent. "I appeal to all brothers and sisters of Gujarat that they should not resort to violence," Modi said in a statement.

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel earlier briefed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who agreed to provide additional companies of paramilitary forces to take the control of the situation. Meanwhile, Gujarat's Leader of the  Opposition Shankarsinh Vaghela demanded resignation of Anandiben Patel for failing to control the situation.

According to police sources, more than 50 buses were torched, while many government properties were targeted by the angry mobs, who were upset with the police crackdown on agitators.

"I have asked for the report regarding police lathicharge on the crowds at GMDC ground where the agitators were on fast unto death after the rally," said Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, while appealing the people to remain calm and maintain peace.

"I will take action against the policemen who resorted to violence. It's shameful," said Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Shivanand Jha.

"We have ordered an inquiry immediately when it came to our notice that the police dealt with heavy hands," said Gujarat's Minister of State for Home Rajni Patel, whose ancestral house was set on fire by the angry mobs.

"The anger was against the police," said a member of Hardik Patel-led Patel Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS).

The state government had also withdrawn buses on BRTS in Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot while mobile internet services were also suspended in order to prevent rumours being spread on social media.

After his release from the custody, Hardik Patel also appealed for peace but slammed the police for brutal crackdown in which several media persons were also beaten up. All schools and markets were closed yesterday.