Ahmedabad/Rajkot/Banaskantha: The violent protests against Una dalit atrocity case continued on the second day today amid appeal for peace from various quarters.

Police has detained over 500 protestors across the state even as various road blockades had disrupted traffic in some parts of Saurashtra where in Amreli a mob of Dalit protestors pelted stone injuring over a dozen people including at least 7 policemen. The mob also targetted some buses. Police had to lob tear gas shells to control the unruly mob. One police man is reportedly killed. His name is Pankajbhai Amreliya. He died in private hospital in Rajkot during treatment.

Unknown persons also targeted a city bus of route number 26 in Ambdedkarnagar area of Rajkot and damaged its window panes and front glasses.60% Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation(GSRTC)buses in Junagadh district are pulled out from operation. Keshod, Kalavad, Dhoraji, Dhrol, Jodiya, Morbi are among the belts where GSRTC bus operations are affected.

Five more youths of the community were hospitalized today when they consumed poisonous liquid in an attempt to commit suicide to protest the Una incident. Three of them did so in Batva area of Junagadh while two others attempted suicide in Biliyada of Gondal taluka of Rajkot district. Earlier yesterday five dalit youths consumed poisonous liquid in Gondal town while two others in Jamkandorna of Jamnagar. All of them are under treatment in local hospitals.

Reports of fresh road blockades have poured in from various places including in Jamnagar, Amreli, Junagadh, Surendranagar, Gir-Somnath, Botad, Ahmedabad and Rajkot districts. Over 500 people have been detained in this connection so far.

The operations of ST buses on various routes in Porbandar, Junagadh and Rajkot have been put on hold as precautionary measure.

In Ahmedabad police detained OBC Ekta Manch leader Alpesh Thakor and around 40 of his supporters while he was trying to lead a protest demo in collector’s office premises. He had announced to hold a symbolic fast near Sabarmati ashram but could not do so. Scores of BSP activists were also detained in Chandkheda area of the city while they were trying to block a road leading to North Gujarat. Some protestors of BSP also tried to gherao the residence of BJP MP from Ahmedabad West Loksabha constituency, himslef a dalit, in Ranip area.

In Jamnagar police released around 100 protestors detained earlier for road blockade near Gurudwara road after fresh protests by a larger crowd started.
In Junagadh police detained around 300 people for blocking a highway near Vadal village. At least two ST buses were also attacked nearby. Another 200 persons were detained in Salangpur town of Botad district for similar reasons. A mob of Dalit protestors held demonstration in Chotila town of Surendranagar district. They also put a dead animal on the road and later threw it in a local government office.

In Jetpur town of Rajkot, a protest rally and gherao of the police station was also organized. Bandhs were also organized at many places including Jetpur, Amreli, Gariyadhar to protest the incident. Local Dalit leaders in Gondal and Junagadh have called for a bandh on the issue tomorrow. At some plaeces those involved in the work of removing the dead bodies of animals have also announced to go on indefinite strike.

Earlier the mob had set ablaze 3 ST buses last evening (2 near Dhoraji in Rajkot and one near Dhrol in Jamnagar) last evening and attacked some BRTS buses in Rajkot. The assistant driver of a train also had sustained head injury last night owing to stone pelting and was admitted to a hospital in Rajkot.

Meanwhile companies of State Reserve Police (SRP) have been deployed in several areas amid tightened security even as Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and leaders across parties have appealed for peace.

Appealing for peace, Mrs Patel told newsmen in Ambaji temple town of Banaskantha district, that more people would be arrested for the crime which was highly deplorable. ‘We have already suspended four to five policemen and arrested several people along with ordering probe and based on the video evidence more culprits will be nabbed,’ she said.

Earlier Congress leader Ahmed Patel had also made appeal for peace.

BSP president Ms Mayavati had also appeled for peace. She said that she wanted to appeal to the people of Gujarat, especially the Dalit community to not to take resort to violence during protests. People must maintain peace and do peaceful demonstration.

A high level meeting was also chaired by Chief Secretary G R Aloria in Gandhinagar today to review the situation. Top officials of home deaprtment and police were also present.

Gujarat Chief Minister to visit the village

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel joined by Social Justice minister Ramanlal Vora and Chief Secretary Aloria will visit Samadhiyala village tomorrow to meet victims and their families.

DeshGujarat