Lalji was injured due to stone pelting and not lathi charge:Chief Secretary

Ahmedabad

Chief Secretary of Gujarat State, G.R. Aloria on Sunday held meeting in Ahmedabad Circuit house on law and order situation in connection with Patidar stir.

Aloria said police used tear gas and water canon in Mahesana and fired round in air and therefore there’s no causality. Aloria praised police force for showing restraint while dealing with Patidar mob in Mahesana.

Aloria clarified that Patidar agitation leader Lalji Patel had suffered head injury due to stone pelting and not due to cane charge by police. He said on the contrary police took Lalji Patel to medical facility.

Aloria said permission was given to Patidar outfit for meeting but not for rally in Mahesana.

He said five ST buses were torched at various places across the state, two government buildings were torched in Mahesana, 435 persons were arrested in Surat, and barring Bhavnagar and Morbi where road blockades were attempted there’s peace allover in Gujarat.

He said Rapid Action Force teams are sent to Surat and Mahesana and 116 State Reserve Police Force and paramilitary teams are sent to districts as per their demand. The state government is in contact with central government for allocation of additional 10 companies if needed in future.

He said internet services are suspended in Mahesana, Rajkot, Surat and Ahmedabad for a day. Further decision on whether to resume these services will be taken after review of law and order situation tomorrow.

– DeshGujarat