1,200 held in Gujarat bandh called by Congress

Overall the bandh was peaceful barring some sporadic incidents like breaking of window panes of state transport buses

The bandh call given by Congress, demanding the resignation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi over the explosive resignation letter by suspended IPS officer D G Vanzara, evoked a partial response across the state even as over 1,200 people were detained during the day.

Overall, the bandh was peaceful barring some sporadic incidents like burning of tyres and breaking of window panes of state transport buses, police said.

More than 1,200 Congress party workers and supporters, who were trying to enforce the bandh, were detained across the state, they said.

The workers tried to close down schools, colleges and business establishment beside stopping trains, city bus services and state road transport corporation buses.

State Congress President Arjun Modhwadia's brother, Ramdev Modhwadia, was also detained in Porbandar, police said.

Commercial establishments in some localities of Ahmedabad remained closed while police detained Congress workers where they forcefully tried to down shutters of some shops.

Bandh across ten districts of Saurashtra evoked mixed response. Educational institutions remained closed while shops and business establishments partially joined the bandh.

Meanwhile, Congress MP from Rajkot, Kunvarji Bavaliya today marched on his foot from district panchayat chowk to Rajkot main street seeking dropping of Section 307 imposed on city Congress president Jasvant Bhatti.

Bhatti was arrested late last night and booked under IPC section 307 when he along with a few Congress workers attempted to torch a Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) bus yesterday.

Congress MLA from Rajkot, Indranil Rajyaguru staged a day long sit-in before the city police Commissionerate.

Nearly 10 NSUI (National Student Union of India) workers were today detained when they ransacked a Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) vehicle near Kalavad road, police said.

Congress leaders Paresh Dhanani (MLA from Amreli) and Jasa Barad (MLA from Veraval) were detained in Amreli and Veraval respectively, police said.