Mob in Mayur’s funeral attack BJP office, 7 held for forcing closure of shops

Mahesana

Police today arrested at least seven supporters of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) in Visnagar town for trying to force close shops in a local market even as a mob, part of the funeral procession of a youth killed in police and para military forces firing during the August 26 violent pro-quota stir of the outfit, attacked the office of ruling BJP in Mahesana town today..

PAAS had given a bandh call in Mahesana today. The funeral of Mayur Patel (22), who had sustained bullet injuries in police firing near Modhera road here on August 26 during the state wide violence and succumbed in a hospital in Ahmedabad yesterday, was also attended by state Congress leaders Siddharth Patel, Babu Mangukiya (also the lawyer of PAAS convener Hardik Patel and his associates).

President of Sardar Patel Group Lalji Patel, PAAS convener Atul Patel were also present here.

Meanwhile, a section of the mob in the funeral suddenly went berserk and started stone pelting on the local BJP office damaging its glass panes. However, no reports of injury in the incident have been received.

On the other hand, police arrested seven supporters of PAAS under section 188 for disobeying the public order when they were forcing shop keepers and others to close their establishments in Visnagar town of the district in support of the Bandh call to protest the death of the above mentioned Patel youth.

In a self styled fashion the outfit has also claimed to ban the entry of Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and Home Minister Rajni Patel in Mahesana (a home town of the latter) till the government took concrete action against the police officials responsible for firing on August 26 which caused the death of Mayur and injured three others.

11 people including Mayur died in the violence that erupted in the night of August 25 following the brief detention of PAAS leaders including its convener Hardik Patel, when they were holding a dharna in the GMDC ground of the city after a massive rally during the day demanding OBC quota for the politically strong Patel (Patidar) community in the state for reservation benefits.

Hardik and some of his aides are now behind bars under various charges including sedition for their role in the violence during which several police posts, government offices and a large number of vehicles including over 200 government run buses were also burnt down. One of the 11 deceased was a police constable who died in a mob attack in Surat.

– DeshGujarat