13 arrested for Gujarat communal clash

Ahmedabad, March 27

Thirteen persons have been arrested in connection with the communal violence at Vadavali village in Patan district which left one dead, the police said on Monday.

“We arrested 13 persons on Sunday after a combing operation in villages neighbouring Vadavali from where the crowd came and attacked residents,” said Inspector of Chanasma police station, C P Sadiya.

“Those arrested so far belong to Sunsar and Dharpuri villages. More arrests are likely today,” the officer said.

One person had died and six others sustained severe injuries after violence broke out following a minor fight between two students of different communities on Saturday over a petty issue.

Some vehicles and a few houses were also set on fire by the clashing crowd.

Cross FIRs were filed at Chanasma police station against a total of 45 accused and a crowd comprising over 3,000 people under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including 302 (murder), 147, 148, 149 (rioting armed with deadly weapons, unlawful assembly), 395, 397 (robbery), 435 and 436 (mischief by fire).

Sadiya said over 100 police personnel and two companies of State Reserve Police were posted at the village. — PTI