Saurashtra bandh a success: Congress

Ahmedabad, May 25: The 'Saurashtra Bandh', called by the Congress to protest the ''deteriorating law and order situation in Gujarat, was a complete success said Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee chief Bharat Solanki.

Mr Solanki, in a statement here, said the bandh was total in districts of Rajkot, Surendranagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar and Amreli. Even, cities of these districts witnessed outright bandh, said Mr Solanki.

The bandh was called in to protest against the police failure in nabbing the two main accused involved in rape and murder of the two girls of Koli community, he said.

Thanking all sections of the people for their cooperation, he said during the Amreli bandh over 50 persons were detained by the police without any provocation and were released later.

In Rajkot district, Congress took out a rally and a memorandum was submitted to mamlatdar by the Rajkot district Congress chief Govindbhai Ranpariya, he said.

In Bhavnagar, 200 party workers, led by district Congress chief Mehurbhai Lavtuka and city chief Dr D G Raniga, were prevented by the police from assembling, Mr Solanki alleged.

Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil, Congress MLA Pravinbhai Maru, Junagadh district Congress spokesperson Akshay Oza condemned the negative attitude of the police force for obstructing a peaceful movement by Congress workers in Saurashtra, instead the police should devote their energies in nabbing the culprits, they said.

UNI