Police fire 11 rounds to disperse rioting tribals at Ambaji in Guj

Ambaji, Gujarat, Jan 5 (UNI) Police today fired eleven rounds and burst 11 rounds of tear gas shells to disperse a rioting mob of around 2,000 tribals at Khumbhaira village, near here.

However, none has sustained injury in the police firing.

Police said four policemen, however, sustained minor injuries in the stone-throwing incident, when the tribals allegedly attacked and ransacked the house of one Naththubhai Motibhai Joshi to avenge the killing of their newly elected Sarpanch Andabhai Nathabhai Dungachia on December 22, whose body was found floating at a nearby check-dam later in the day. The mob later set the house on fire.

Naththubhai was not present at home at that time. However, timely intervention by police and administrative officials could save the lives of four women in Naththubhai's family, who were trapped inside the burning house.

The tribals also set ablaze the house of one Babu Sanja Solanki, another suspect in the murder of Andabhai, at Jetvaas village.

Tribals, living in surrounding villages, believe that their new sarpanch was murdered by Naththubhai and three other suspects due to political rivalry.

Meanwhile, police have given protection to the families of two remaining suspects -- Narshi Dungachia from Chikhla village and Raju Pathan of Surpagla village (in Rajasthan).

A case of rioting has been registered against the rioting mob, police added.

UNI