Worker killed as private guard opens fire at agitators

Bhavnagar, Gujarat, July 6 (UNI) A diamond worker was killed and 30 others, including some policemen, were injured after a workers' agitation for a wage hike turned violent here today.

The agitation was launched in Surat last Friday and today it spread to Bhavnagar city.

Thousands of diamond workers gathered at the Sarita Society, Kumudvadi and Ghadhechi Vadela areas and began raising slogans.

The agitating workers began pelting stones at the diamond polishing and cutting units, police said.

A security guard at ''Jwels Star'' unit of Mavaji Koshiya, opened fire to quell the mob in which a diamond worker, Vijay Arjunbhai (30), was killed.

Police tried to control the situation but the agitators pelted stones at the police. Over 30 people, including several police personnel, were injured in the ensuing tussle.

The injured have been admitted to a city hospital. Police has arrested more than 100 people for rioting. The situation in the city is under control but tense. The police has also arrested the security guard who had fired at the workers, leading to the death of one of them.

Yesterday, the agitation of diamond workers in Ahmedabad had turned violent and police had to resort to lathicharge and use teargas shells to control the situation.

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