Riots in Vadodara claim four lives

Vadodara witnessed riots when Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) began its demolition drive at Fatehpura, a communal sensitive area of the Walled city of Vadodara.

On Monday, VMC team reached Fatehpura to demolish the century old Rasidoddin Rahemtulla Alayhe dargah, a holy shrine in Vadodara. A huge crowd had gathered to stop the demolition.

Eariler, the community leaders had been informed in advance by the VMC about the compulsive removal of the dargah but the leaders expressed their dissatisfaction on the decision.

As the angry mob started pelting stone at the VMC team, city police lathi charged to disperse the mob but the mob turned more violent and hit back.

Police restored to heavy lathi charge and fired tear gas rounds to control the mob. As the situation turned ugly, police fired bullets, killing two and injured more than 20 people.

Cofirming the matter, Deepak Saroop, city police commissioner, said, "Two people have died in police firing and 16 are injured." The injured include two police personnel. He further said, "Police have fired 28 rounds till now."

Vadodara district collector, Rajiv Topno, said "At least four death has been reported, two by bullet injures and two by stabbing."

Two person died due to police firing while another was stabbed to death by an angry mob while the fourth could not be confirmed. At least 20 people were injured either by the police gunfire or stone pelting.

He added that a central government team from the MOS Home Jaiswal will be visiting the city by night to take stock of the situation.

Indefinite curfew in Raopura, Wadi, Navapura, Kareli Baug, City PO and Panigate have been imposed as four shops and a residence were burnt. The riot spread to Mandvi area as the mob stormed into district court at around 1 pm and burned four vehicles and a tempo.