Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel on Tuesday night made a desperate appeal to the people of Gujarat to maintain calm and not pay attention to any rumours after the brief detention of Hardik Patel caused a riot-like situation in Gujarat.
The Gujarat CM said, “My sincere appeal to the people of Gujarat to maintain peace and not to indulge in activities disrupting law & order across the state. I urge people to refrain from spreading & believing any rumours & support state administration in maintaining peace & harmony across Gujarat.”
Hardik, who has now become the face of the movement for Patel’s reservation, was briefly arrested by Gujarat police on Tuesday evening after he held a mega rally demanding the reservation for his community.
A police officer officer Pravin Solanki said that the young Patel was arrested because he had sat on hunger strike without any permission.
He said, “Hardik has been taken to the city police headquarters in Shahibaugh here as police suspected that if Hardik was kept at Vastrapur police station, people will gather there to protest”
Soon after the news of Patel’s arrest spread, protesters belonging to Patidar community went berserk destroying public properties in Surat and Ahmedabad.
Patidar community protesters destroy public property in Surat, Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/lHyPCGM7yJ
— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2015
There were also reports of protesters setting private vehicles on fire like this four wheeler in Surat. This included a van and two buses in Surat. Late in night, police imposed section 144 in Kapodra Police Station and Sarthana Police station areas after protesters turned violent in Surat.
Protesters from Patel Community set 2 Buses on fire in Surat, Gujarat pic.twitter.com/OyS4uuEqBO
— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2015
In Ahmedabad, two motorbikes were reported to have been set on fire by incensed protesters.
Hardik Patel’s ide and spokesperson of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, Chirag Patel, claimed that the police had beaten up the protesters, which included children and women while Hardik was being taken into custody.
He said, “Police first switched off all the lights at GMDC ground and then took Hardik somewhere. Before that police lathicharged and even beat up women and small children,”
(Photos:ANI)