News Analysis India

Tag: Gujarat communal clash

  • Members of two communities clash in Gujarat’s Kalol; cops fire tear gas

    By PTI
    GODHAR: A communal clash broke out on Saturday after members of a community objected to the police detaining a suspect in connection with an incident in which a teenage boy from another community was thrashed by unidentified people at Kalol town in Panchmahal district of Gujarat, prompting the police to fire teargas shells, an officer said.

    “Tension over a group of people from one community allegedly thrashing a boy from another community on Friday night led to two groups clashing with each other on Saturday. Policemen were also attacked when they tried to control the situation,” Panchmahal Superintendent of Police Leena Patil told reporters.

    The clash erupted after a group of people reached Kalol police station demanding the release of a man belonging to their community who was detained by police for allegedly thrashing a boy from another community on Friday midnight, Patil said.

    The SP said tension started over a trivial issue involving boys from the two communities.

    “When the police tried to disperse the group of people who had come to the police station, they ran and hid in their houses and shops and started hurling stones at police personnel. Meanwhile, a group of people from another community also reached the area,” the SP said.

    A police inspector and some other people sustained minor injuries.

    Vehicles parked in the area were also damaged in the incident, she said.

    Police fired several rounds of teargas shells to control the mob.

    At least 80 police personnel were deployed in the area to bring the situation under control, the SP said.

    “The situation is now under control, and we are keeping a watch on social media to prevent the spread of rumours. The process to register an FIR against those involved is underway. Around 60 to 70 police personnel had reached the spot after the clash erupted. Three platoons of the SRP have been called,” the officer said.

  • Gujarat communal clash: FIR registered against over 2,000 people

    By PTI
    GIR SOMNATH: Police have registered an FIR against nearly 2,000 unidentified people on charges of attempt to murder and rioting after members of two communities clashed with each other here in Gujarat, leaving six policemen and around a dozen other people injured, an official said on Monday.

    The FIR also names 47 other persons for similar offences in connection with the incident that took place on Sunday, he said.

    The clash broke out at Nava Bandar village in Una taluka of Gir Somnath after an altercation over collision of two fishing boats at a jetty in the village, he said.

    Around 1,500 to 2,000 people belonging to two communities allegedly hit each other with sticks, swords, iron and plastic pipes, and also hurled stones and empty glass bottles, the official said.

    When police intervened to control the mob, the rioters attacked them, injuring six personnel, including Assistant Superintendent of Police Om Prakash Jat, two sub-inspectors and three constables, an official from Nava Bandar Marine police station said.

    The police had to lob several teargas shells to control the mob, he said.

    An FIR was registered against 47 named and 1,500 to 2,000 unidentified people from both the communities late Sunday night under IPC Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 332, 333 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to public servant), 337, 338 (hurting with negligent act endangering human life), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 and 148 (rioting), he said.

    Efforts were on to arrest them, the official said.

    Following the clash, a large police team comprising personnel from three nearby police stations at Una, Gir Gadhada and Kodinar, as well as from the local crime branch and special operations group had rushed to control the mob, he said.

  • Gujarat: 15 including police personnel hurt in communal clash

    By PTI
    GIR SOMNATH: At least 11 people and some policemen were injured in a clash between members of two communities on Sunday in coastal Nava Bandar village in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat, police said.

    Prima facie, a dispute over parking of fishing boats led to the incident, officials said.

    Gir Somnath district superintendent of police Rahul Tripathi said members of two communities hurled stones at each other after an altercation over collision between some of their fishing boats.

    He said at least 11 people and four police personnel were injured in the incident that occurred late afternoon.

    “Additional number of police personnel are deployed in the village to control the situation. The process to register an FIR is underway,” the SP added.

    This area in Gir Somnath district was affected by cyclonic storm Tauktae which left a trail of destruction in the coastal belt of Gujarat earlier this week.