DHAKA: At least three people were killed in widespread violence in India’s Gujarat province on Wednesday as tension mounted in the state, even as Hardik Patel vowed to intensify the agitation for OBC quota for Patel community.

Apprehending more trouble, curfew was clamped in parts of Ahmedabad and other major cities across the state during the day. Apart from Ahmedabad, curfew had been clamped in Surat, Mehsana, Rajkot, Jamnagnar and Patan cities.

‘Police have recovered bodies of three persons who were suspected to have been killed in violence spread across the city,’ police spokesman ND Trivedi said, reports Hindustan Times.

According to a senior police official, two persons died in police firing in Vastral area, while body of a man was found in Ghatlodia in the city.

‘Girish Patel (47) and his son Siddharth Patel (20) were killed in police firing late last night,’ he said.

The Army was called in on Wednesday as an agitation by Gujarat’s Patidar community for reservation left three people dead in the state amidst spiraling violence across the state despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s called for calm.
 
The Centre also rushed additional paramilitary forces to state to take control of the law and order situation after the leader of the community vowed to intensify their agitation, which has seen large scale violence since Tuesday, forcing authorities to clamp prohibitory orders in several places.
 
The leader of the Patidars, commonly known as the Patels, however, blamed police of orchestrating the violence.
 
‘They (police) are indulging in violence. Police are beating (up) mothers, sisters and small children. They are doing it the same way it is done in UP and Bihar,’ said Hardik Patel, spearheading the agitation under the banner of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS).

BDST: 1919 HRS, AUG 26, 2015
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