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Tension gripped housing societies on Morbi Road in Rajkot after a mob turned violent while protesting after Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar’s statue at Gandhi Vasahat was vandalised on his 120the birth anniversary on Thursday.
Police resorted to lathi-charge and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the mob that pelted stones in the Khatiwas area alleging that the miscreants came from there. The police combed the area to prevent any untoward incident and called in reinforcements, including two SRP platoons, to keep the situation under control.
But soon, tension spread to other parts of city, with a mob coming out on Morbi highway, brandishing swords and axes. The highway had to be closed for hours and traffic was disrupted.
For a few hours in afternoon, the police closed down the main entrance of Gandhi Society and Khatkiwas to bring the situation under control.
However, in the afternoon, the students of Mahatma Gandhi Hostel on Kalawad Road burnt tyres on the main road, disturbing traffic and creating tension.
It all started, said the police, around 11 am when members of Dalit community had gathered at Ambedkar’s statue at Civil Hospital Chowk in large numbers to mark the birth anniversary of the leader. The word spread that some miscreants had vandalised Ambedkar’s statue in Gandhi Vasahat.
“Mob suspected that the miscreants came from nearby Khatkiwas (society of one particular community). Four houses in Khatkiwas were targeted by the mob, which did heavy stone-pelting,” said the police. Three mediapersons were also injured in the incident.
Police said the residents had managed to flee and no one was injured. Later, the mob came out with sharp weapons on Morbi highway demanding immediate arrest of the miscreants.
Commissioner of Police Geetha Johri and deputy commissioner Mayank Chavda rushed to the spot even as police lobbed tear gas shells to disperse crowd.
Later, with help of Dalit social and political leaders, the police restored the statue.
Meanwhile, Dalit leaders said they are likely to give Rajkot bandh call on Friday.
Police resorted to lathi-charge and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the mob that pelted stones in the Khatiwas area alleging that the miscreants came from there. The police combed the area to prevent any untoward incident and called in reinforcements, including two SRP platoons, to keep the situation under control.
But soon, tension spread to other parts of city, with a mob coming out on Morbi highway, brandishing swords and axes. The highway had to be closed for hours and traffic was disrupted.
For a few hours in afternoon, the police closed down the main entrance of Gandhi Society and Khatkiwas to bring the situation under control.
However, in the afternoon, the students of Mahatma Gandhi Hostel on Kalawad Road burnt tyres on the main road, disturbing traffic and creating tension.
It all started, said the police, around 11 am when members of Dalit community had gathered at Ambedkar’s statue at Civil Hospital Chowk in large numbers to mark the birth anniversary of the leader. The word spread that some miscreants had vandalised Ambedkar’s statue in Gandhi Vasahat.
“Mob suspected that the miscreants came from nearby Khatkiwas (society of one particular community). Four houses in Khatkiwas were targeted by the mob, which did heavy stone-pelting,” said the police. Three mediapersons were also injured in the incident.
Police said the residents had managed to flee and no one was injured. Later, the mob came out with sharp weapons on Morbi highway demanding immediate arrest of the miscreants.
Commissioner of Police Geetha Johri and deputy commissioner Mayank Chavda rushed to the spot even as police lobbed tear gas shells to disperse crowd.
Later, with help of Dalit social and political leaders, the police restored the statue.
Meanwhile, Dalit leaders said they are likely to give Rajkot bandh call on Friday.
