4 killed, 12 hurt as Gujarat police open fire to control dalit violence

Four persons were killed and three others seriously injured in police firing at Keshod town in Gujarat's Junagadh district. An indefinite curfew has been clamped on the town.

Another incident at Dumyani village in Rajkot district left nine people, including two police personnel, injured in a clash between two groups.

At Keshod, the Paan Beedi Galla, a local association, gave a strike call to protest the damage done to their shops by dalits on the Gujarat bandh (strike) day (Wednesday).

Around 1030 hrs, a group of strikers took to the roads, shouting slogans. They advanced towards the Char Rasta chowk, when clashes broke out with an anti-strike mob.

The mob set ablaze a public telephone booth belonging to Deputy Minister for Social Welfare Bachubhai Sonderva's brother. When the police intervened, violence escalated. To disperse the mob, police first lathicharged and then fired teargas shells. Finding these ineffective, police later resorted to firing.

Junagadh district Collector Pankaj Joshi and Deputy Superintendent of Police Vanjara reached the spot with additional forces.

Those killed in the firing were Samir Bhailal Ganatra, Amir Ali and Dinesh Joshi. The fourth body is yet to be identified.

The injured have been admitted to the Junagadh civil hospital.

Police say the situation is now under control. About two dozen people have been arrested as a precautionary measure.

In Dumyani, too, similar events preceded violence. The situation in the village, though tense, is under control.

RELATED STORY: Ambedkar statue desecrated in Nashik, angry mob resorts to stoning
UNI