Pics: Violence, fire, curfew; What's happening in Gujarat over Hardik Patel-led agitation

| Updated: Wednesday, August 26, 2015, 18:31 [IST]

Ahmedabad, Aug 26: Hardik Patel-led agitation spread over Gujarat like fire. Hours after his rally at GMDC ground in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, Aug 25, he was arrested and was released shortly.

Hardik's arrest ignited agitation in the state, especially in Ahmedabad and Surat. Members of Patel community resorted to arson, stone-pelting and vandalism.

[Reservation for Patels: Who is Hardik Patel, who has shaken Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel-led BJP govt?]

Curfew was imposed in three towns of North Gujarat and some areas of Surat. A day after massive violence in the state, state-wise bandh has been observed in Gujarat on Wednesday.

Hardik, who was arrested on Tuesday night, was later released. Paramilitary forces like State Reserve Police Force, BSF and Rapid Action Force have been deployed in cities like Ahmedabad and Mehsana.

[Quota row: Violence spreads in Gujarat, curfew imposed in Surat, Mehsana]

Appealing his followers to maintain peace in the state, Hardik was quoted as saying, "I make an appeal to maintain peace and keep calm. This (bandh in Gujarat) decision has been taken by Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti considering widespread violence in the state."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel too appealed people to maintain calm in Gujarat.

[Patel agitation: PM Narendra Modi appeals for peace in Gujarat]

See pics of violence in Gujarat over Patel-led agitation:

Police lathicharged protesters

Police lathicharged protesters, who gathered in large numbers at various cross-roads and attacked police, pelted stones and set on fire public properties including buses at two places.

Violence in Gujarat: Buses set on fire

In Ahmedabad, city buses and police posts were set on fire, while stone-pelting was reported from various parts of Gujarat, state control room officials said.

Curfew imposed in many parts in Gujarat

As the news of detention of Patel spread, violence broke out first here and later spread to other cities like Surat, Mehsana, Rajkot and some interior areas of the state.

Curfew was imposed in Mehsana city, about 90 kms from here, and Unjha and Visnagar towns after widespread incident of arson in which attempts were also made to set on fire residence of Gujarat Minister of State of Home Rajni Patel.

Why is Patel community agitating in Gujarat

The Patel community of Gujarat has been agitating for around a month to fulfil their demands of reservation under the Other Backward Class (OBC) status.