Calm but tense situation in Gadhada town

Bhavnagar, Mar 13 (UNI) Tense but calm situation prevailed in Gadhada town today as most of the shops remained closed after yesterday's incident in which sadhus went on rampage over Swaminarayan temple land issue with rival sects.

Police had to fire in the air to disperse a stone-pelting mob, in which four persons were injured.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Junagadh range) Mohan Zha, Bhavnagar Superintendant of Police (SP) Harikrishna Patel are camping in the Gadhada town in wake of the incident.

State Reserve Police (SRP) contigent, Home Guards and police have been deployed to keep vigil and maintain the situation under control.

Prohibitory orders have been clamped in the town following the incident, banning congregation of more than four people at one place.

In view of the ongoing board exams, police have made elaborate arrangements in the town for the students and parents so that the students could give their exams without any trouble, sources said.

A case of rioting has been registered against nine persons including six sadhus, the sources said.

Yesterday's violence was the result of a dispute over a wall that separates new Swaminaryan temple from the old one. The trustees and followers of the two temples had reportedly been fighting over the territory of their temples for quite some time, the sources added.

UNI