Hardik detained outside Rajkot ODI venue, sparks protests
AHMEDABAD: Sporadic protests took place at few places in Gujarat while one state transport bus was set on fire in Morbi district following detention of Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel ahead of the ODI between Indian and South Africa at Rajkot on Sunday.
“Some unidentified persons set afire a stationed ST bus at Mahendranagar area on the outskirts of Morbi city today (Sunday),” NS Malek, inspector of B division police station in Morbi said, adding they were trying to trace the people behind the incident.
The officer said nobody was injured in the incident.
Meanwhile, two incidents of protests were reported in Bardoli and Surat.
In Surat, Alpesh Kathiria, convener of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) in city and also a close associate of Hardik, held a demonstration at Kamrej area along with his supporters and tried to block National Highway no 8, following which he was detained.
“Around 17 people, including Kathiria, were detained by the police for around four hours as they tried to block NH-8 at Kamrej area,” police control room officer of Surat (Rural) Sunil Sinh said.
An agitation was held for a brief period in Bardoli town by some people but they soon called it off after police requested them not to resort to any kind of protest, said Bardoli town sub-inspector DR Vasava.