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Days of Unrest Turn Deadly in Indian State of Gujarat Days of Unrest Turn Deadly in Indian State of Gujarat
(about 3 hours later)
NEW DELHI — The authorities in the Indian state of Gujarat struggled to restore calm on Thursday after two days of widespread unrest and deadly clashes between residents and the police. Curfews remained in Ahmedabad, the state’s largest city, and a state court ordered an inquiry into allegations of police brutality. NEW DELHI — The authorities in the Indian state of Gujarat struggled to restore calm on Thursday after two days of widespread unrest and deadly clashes between residents and the police. Curfews remained in Ahmedabad, the state’s largest city, and a state court ordered an inquiry into allegations of police brutality.
The state secretary for home affairs, G.S. Malik, said that at least seven civilians had been killed by police fire, and one police constable in the city of Surat was killed in the clashes. The state secretary for home affairs, G. S. Malik, said that at least seven civilians had been killed by police fire, and one police constable in the city of Surat was killed in the clashes.
The unrest began after the police briefly detained Hardik Patel, 22, a prominent activist from the Patidar caste, a relatively affluent and influential group that makes up about 14 percent of Gujarat’s population. He was taken into custody Tuesday evening after he appeared at a mass rally and demanded that the state earmark government jobs and places in educational institutions for Patidars, the way it does for castes lower in the Indian social hierarchy. The local authorities said there were about 300,000 people at the rally.The unrest began after the police briefly detained Hardik Patel, 22, a prominent activist from the Patidar caste, a relatively affluent and influential group that makes up about 14 percent of Gujarat’s population. He was taken into custody Tuesday evening after he appeared at a mass rally and demanded that the state earmark government jobs and places in educational institutions for Patidars, the way it does for castes lower in the Indian social hierarchy. The local authorities said there were about 300,000 people at the rally.
The Gujarat High Court ordered the police in the city of Ahmedabad on Thursday to investigate allegations of police misconduct after a lawyer told the court that 30 to 40 policemen swept through his neighborhood Tuesday night, firing guns and vandalizing cars, The Press Trust of India reported. The agency quoted the judge as saying that the matter must be taken “very seriously, so that public confidence can be restored.” The Gujarat High Court ordered the police in the city of Ahmedabad on Thursday to investigate allegations of police misconduct after a lawyer told the court that 30 to 40 policemen had swept through his neighborhood Tuesday night, firing guns and vandalizing cars, The Press Trust of India reported. The agency quoted the judge as saying that the matter must be taken “very seriously, so that public confidence can be restored.”
Virat Popat, the Ahmedabad lawyer who complained to the court, said the police had acted without provocation and that officers “created an atmosphere of terror.”Virat Popat, the Ahmedabad lawyer who complained to the court, said the police had acted without provocation and that officers “created an atmosphere of terror.”
Mr. Malik, the home affairs secretary, gave a somewhat different account, saying that residents in many neighborhoods were throwing stones at the police. “Let us see what the inquiry report says,” he said. Mr. Malik, the home affairs secretary, gave a somewhat different account, saying that residents in many neighborhoods had been throwing stones at the police. “Let us see what the inquiry report says,” he said.
The Patidars, who are also known as the Patels because they adopt that surname, have considerable political, financial and economic power in Gujarat. The state’s chief minister and many prominent business leaders belong to the caste. Still, many Patidars complain that they have been unfairly left out of opportunities given to members of lower castes.The Patidars, who are also known as the Patels because they adopt that surname, have considerable political, financial and economic power in Gujarat. The state’s chief minister and many prominent business leaders belong to the caste. Still, many Patidars complain that they have been unfairly left out of opportunities given to members of lower castes.
“They are talking that the Patels have brought progress in Gujarat,” Hardik Patel said in an interview with the Indian news channel ABP that was broadcast last week. Referring to the state government, he said, “if we have made progress for them, then they should help with our progress.” “They are talking that the Patels have brought progress in Gujarat,” Hardik Patel said in an interview with the Indian news channel ABP that was broadcast last week. Referring to the state government, he said, “If we have made progress for them, then they should help with our progress.”
The state was governed for more than a decade by Narendra Modi, who is now the country’s prime minister. His Bharatiya Janata Party continues to rule in Gujarat with support from Patidars — support that some in the group have threatened to withdraw if their demands are not met. The state was governed for more than a decade by Narendra Modi, who is now the country’s prime minister. His Bharatiya Janata Party continues to govern in Gujarat with support from Patidars — support that some in the group have threatened to withdraw if their demands are not met.
Mr. Modi made an appeal for peace in the state on Wednesday, saying that “each and every issue can be resolved through talks.” At the same time, army and paramilitary forces were deployed to try to restore order.Mr. Modi made an appeal for peace in the state on Wednesday, saying that “each and every issue can be resolved through talks.” At the same time, army and paramilitary forces were deployed to try to restore order.