Two killed, 10 injured in communal violence in Gujarat

The incident occurred in Patan district after a mob ransacked and set ablaze 50 houses.

Patan, March 26: Two persons were killed and 10 others injured in a communal clash in Gujarat. The incident occurred in Patan district after a mob ransacked and set ablaze 50 houses.

Patan Superintendent of Police Ashwin Chauhan said a minor altercation between two students over some dispute while going for the high school examinations in Vadavali village soon assumed communal overtones and flared up into a major clash involving people from at least three surrounding villages.

The mob first ransacked and then set ablaze 50 houses. Several vehicles parked in front the houses were also burnt down.

Police from Patan and Mehsana rushed to the spot but with the situation threatening to spiral out of control, in-charge Director General of Police P.P. Pandey despatched Inspector General of Police, Gandhinagar to the riot-torn village to oversee matters. It also took more than 10 fire engines from Mehsana, Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar to douse the fire in the houses and vehicles set ablaze.

Police carried out a baton-charge and used teargas shells to disperse the mob but the violence continued, forcing them to open fire in which one youth was killed. At least 10 people sustained injuries in stone throwing between the two groups.

OneIndia News