Gujarat: Several injured, 29 held as residents, cops clash

Several people, including policemen, were injured and over a score arrested following clashes between police and locals in Sardarnagar area here, officials said today.

While residents have accused a raiding police team of using excessive force and assaulting people in the locality, a senior police official claimed that residents first attacked the police team that had raided the area looking for liquor vends.

The incident took place yesterday in Chharanagar area of Sardarnagar locality and 29 people had been arrested so far for rioting and attacking police personnel, Inspector R N Virani of Sardarnagar police station said today.

He said an FIR has been registered against a mob of about 150 persons and further investigations into the incident were underway.

A local resident and well-known stage artiste, Daxin Bajrange, alleged that a police team which barged into the area late last night vandalised parked vehicles and assaulted residents with batons.

Several videos, shot on mobile phones, purportedly show police personnel damaging vehicles and hitting people.

He further alleged that the police raid was a fallout of a clash between two youth from the locality and police sub-inspector D K Mori a day earlier.

Bajrange said that among the residents who were assaulted included a photo-journalist, two advocates and several women.

The claims were rubbished by Assistant Commissioner of Police, J P Raol, who said that some persons pelted Mori with stones during the raid meant to ferret out illegal liquor.

"Some persons first hurled stones on Mori and his team during the raid. They even tore Mori's clothes and thrashed him. Upon learning about the attack, more police teams were sent. However, locals attacked these policemen with sticks," he told reporters.

"The police had to resort to a baton charge in self defence. PSI Mori was not at fault," Raol added.

Bajrange alleged that 30 persons had been arrested from the area on false charges.

Officials said that Chharanagar area has been on the police radar for some time now for allegedly being at the centre of an illegal liquor trade.