Rajkot: Three buses of the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) more commonly known as ST buses were set ablaze by the alleged protestors of Dalit community in two separate incidents near Bhuki Chowkdi of Dhoraji in Rajkot district and Latipur Chowkadi in Dhrol in Jamnagar district this evening.

The dalit community members protesting against the said atrocities over youths of their community in Una taluka of Gir Somnath district also targetted and damaged a BRTS bus station near Nana Mahuva area on ring road in Rajkot city. A mob of over a thousand people had jammed the Rajkot-Gondal highway highway near Shapar causing major traffic jam of around five kms. Another such jam has also been reported from near Giriraj hospital on the Kalavad road.

Meanwhile security has been beefed up in the areas to check the violent protest which somewhat resembles the demonstrations of Patidar quota stir supporters in August last year.

A mob targetted two ST buses near Bhuki Chowkdi in Dhoraji in Rajkot district and one near Latipur chowkdi in Dhrol taluka of Jamnagar district and burnt them. However no loss of life was reported as the buses were empty. One of the bus set ablaze near Bhuki Chowkdi was going to Porbandar from Rajkot while the other one was reportedly coming to Rajkot from Morabi.

There were unconfirmed reports of stone pelting on the vehicle of a senior police officer of Gir Somnath district as well.

Earlier in the day the community members held a protest rally in Rajkot and gheroed various leaders of their community cutting across party lines on the Una issue. Some of the protestors threw bodies of dead animals in a government office.

A total of seven youths of Dalit community (Five in Gondal and 2 in Jamkandorana) tried to commit suicide by consuming poisonous liquid today. All of them have been admitted to Gondal civil hospital.

These incidents also added fuel to the protests which was also organized at some other places including Vadodara in central Gujarat.

Notably chief minister Mrs Anandiben Patel today ordered a time framed probe in the matter by CID crime.

Update: Another ST bus has been burnt in Dhrol near Jamnagar.

DeshGujarat