Patels' rally turns violent; curfew imposed in Mehsana

Mehsana (Gujarat), April 17: Curfew was imposed in Mehsana town of Gujarat after a mammoth rally taken out by the Patel community seeking reservation and release of their jailed leaders turned violent.

Police personnel used lathicharge and fired tear gas shells at the agitators after they reportedly resorted to stone-pelting.

Five hundred people were detained.

The protesters gathered at Modhera crossing as part of the Jail Bharo agitation announced by the Sardar Patel Group (SPG), one of the prominent groups seeking OBC quota for the Patel community.

SPG chief Lalji Patel received an injury on his head during a face-off with the keepers of law.

The police claimed they resorted to the lathicharge after some people started pelting stone at police vehicles. Lalji Patel, however, alleged that the Patel agitators were targeted even while they were doing it peacefully.

Oneindia News