Groups clash in Surat, 11 vehicles torched
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- Current News
- Sunday, 02 September 2012 13:57
- Published on Monday, 03 September 2012 13:57
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Gujarat Global News Network, Surat
There was high tension in Surat after a clash broke out between people of two different communities on late Saturday night. The police had to lob teargas shells and fire five rounds to control violence in the sensitive Kadarshah ni naal area of Surat.
The police has registered a case of rioting against 500 people and arrested 82 persons. As per the police sources, the violence erupted in the communally sensitive area of  Kadarshah ni naal when the members of Ganesh Mandal at Macchiwad in Nanpura were taking out a Ganesha idol and passing through Ekta circle near Kadarshah ni naal.Â
While the procession was passing from there, the motorcycle of a youth Annu Mistry allegedly hit a girl while trying to drive by the circle. The members of the Ganesh Mandal members felt Mistry had eve-teased the girl, who was part of the procession.
The members of the mandal thrashed Mistry and torched his motorcycle. Mistry somehow managed to flee from the spot but soon returned with a group of youths belonging to his community and attacked the members of the mandal. While both the groups were fighting, rumours started spreading that the Ganesha idol was damaged. This acted as a catalyst and people indulged in heavy stone-pelting at Kadarshah ni naal.
The police tried to disperse the crowd with a mild lathi-charge but was unsuccessful. Then the police opened fire in the air and lobbed teargas shells. But the damage was already done. 11 vehicles including seven two-wheelers, 3 auto-rickshaws were damaged. Fifteen police officials, including DCP S K Dave and PSI of Athwa police station R S Kukani, were injured in the stone pelting.
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