The violence that erupted in several parts of Gujarat after the brief arrest of 21-year-old Hardik Patel Caste Politics: Violence and protests in Gujarat call for a bandh on Tuesday night in Ahmedabad killed 8, including a policeman.

The Army, which held flag marches in the city on Wednesday (August 26), has also been deployed in Surat, Rajkot and Mehsana to restore law and order.

Five people died on Tuesday (August 25) night in Ahmedabad, two of them allegedly in police firing after protesters clashed with cops. Two people were killed in Palanpur in north Gujarat on Wednesday, both allegedly in police firing. A policeman who was injured during clashes in Surat on Wednesday morning, also died.

The Patidar Anamat Sangarsh Samiti led by Hardik Patel, which is demanding reservations for the powerful Patel community in government jobs and colleges, has demanded for murder charges to be pressed against cops who allegedly fired at protesters. It has also demanded Rs. 30 lakh compensation for those killed in the violence in the state since Tuesday.

The community has also called upon farmers to cut supply of milk and vegetables to cities to register their protest against the deaths in alleged police firing.

Curfew, meanwhile, continues in several parts of Ahmedabad. Schools and colleges will remain closed today.

Curfew has also been imposed in Surat, which is tense after incidents of arson, damage to government property and clashes this morning. Schools and colleges there will remain closed today.

Ten columns of the army and 53 companies of paramilitary forces, besides the Gujarat Police, have been called in to control violent mobs in Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Morbi, Vadodara, Mehsana and Banaskantha.

Nine trains cancelled, which includes Rajdhani and Ashram Express from Ahmedabad to Delhi; 19 trains had their routes truncated, and five trains have been diverted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for calm in the state. "Violence does not benefit anybody," the PM said in an appeal on television, adding, "We must work together to solve problems through talks".

Hardik Patel was detained briefly by the Ahmedabad police last night. He is leading a movement by the powerful Patel or Patedar caste that wants reservation in government jobs and colleges. Mr Patel had called for a bandh or strike all over the state today.  

The state government led by Chief Minister Anandiben Patel says that's not possible because Gujarat has already hit a 50 per cent cap on reservation, a limit imposed by the Supreme Court.

(with agency inputs)
By Sree Teja