One killed in Gujarat riot

new delhi — One person was killed and about 14 injured when violence erupted following a scuffle between school students of two communities in Gujarat, a senior administrative official said on Sunday.

A crowd of about 5,000 people attacked residents and set dozens of homes and vehicles on fire of a particular community at Vadavali village in Patan district on Saturday after students of complained of misbehaviour by other students, said K. K. Nirala, the district’s top administrative official.

Members of the the community retaliated by throwing stones and police used teargas and fired seven rounds to disperse the crowd and control the violence, Nirala said.

Police from Patan and Mehsana rushed to the spot but with the situation threatening to spiral out of control, in-charge Director General of Police P.P. Pandey despatched Inspector General of Police, Gandhinagar to the riot-torn village to oversee matters. It also took more than 10 fire engines from Mehsana, Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar to douse the fire in the houses and vehicles set ablaze.

Police carried out a baton-charge and used teargas shells to disperse the mob but the violence continued, forcing them to open fire in which one youth was killed. At least 10 people sustained injuries in stone throwing between the two groups.

Nirala said the situation had been brought under control and three companies of the State Reserve Police have been asked to stay in the village to maintain peace. —