Mob sets ablaze SRP post, 10 arrested

A mob of over 2,500 people allegedly torched a State Reserve Police's makeshift post and around five bikes in Rakhiyal area of the city, police said on Wednesday.

Ten persons have been arrested in this connection, they said.

Following the incident, the Rakhiyal police inspector has been transferred for laxity in controlling the situation.

The incident took place in an open ground at Morarji chowk at around 11 PM on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone-5, Girish Pandya said, adding, the Rakhiyal police on Wednesday registered an FIR and arrested 10 persons.

"An FIR has been filed in this regard and 10 persons are already arrested. The probe has been handed over to the city crime branch," Pandya said.

Looking at the gravity of situation, as the mob had allegedly targeted State Reserve Police (SRP) jawans and set ablaze their tent chowky and some of their vehicles, Rakhiyal police inspector D D Dangarwala has been transferred.

"Police inspector Dangarwala has been transferred to special branch on Wednesday," Additional Commissioner of Police, Sector-2, D B Vaghela said.

According to the FIR filed by head constable of Rakhiyal- Anil Somani, the locals armed with petrol bottles attacked the construction site at the Morarji chowk last night.

The FIR mentioned that the state government had acquired the land at the chowk for a housing project. As locals were against it, they approached the High Court in the past and acquired a stay on construction.

As the duration of stay ended on Tuesday, the contractor and his men came to the open ground which is under SRP's protection.

The angry locals allegedly stormed into the ground last night when the contractor was putting up a shed, the FIR said.

"A mob of more than 2,500 people attacked SRP jawans and others. They also hurled petrol bottles and set ablaze the tent chowky of SRP jawans. Around five two-wheelers were also torched," the FIR mentioned.

The accused have been booked for rioting, arson, attack on policemen and damage to public property.