The Gujarat High Court has asked the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner to file a report by Friday, on the violence that was triggered in many parts of the State, following the brief detention of 22-year-old Hardik Patel, who is leading an agaitation demanding quota to Patel community.
The court acted on a public interest litigation filed, following the death of nine people during the 'Gujarat bandh' and continuing violent agitation for reservation.
Mr. Patel called for a State bandh on Tuesday, a day of violence which saw protesters torching 100 buses and vandalising property. Six persons were killed in police firing and two in the rioting. One succumbed to injuries on Thursday.
The Army, which was called in on Wednesday to control the situation, staged flag marches in Ahmedabad and Surat on Thursday. About 113 companies of paramilitary forces have also been deployed in affected areas. Each company comprises 80 personnel. Forty-nine of these companies are deployed in Ahmedabad, six in Vadodara, 10 in Surat, three companies in Rajkot and remaining in other parts of the state to maintain the law and order, said Director General of Police P.C. Thakur, to PTI.
Schools and colleges in the State will remain shut today too. Mobile internet services, which was on the blink yesterday, will remain suspended today.
Train services have been affected as protesters have damaged tracks in at least eight places.
12 trains have been cancelled and 19 partially cancelled, a railway official said.
(With inputs from PTI)
