Gir-SomnathAhmedabad, Oct 29 (PTI) Police today lobbed at least 30teargas shells and fired five rounds in the air to control amob in the Gir-Somnath district, following two days of violentclashes between members of the ethnic Siddi community and theresidents of Gundran village, a senior police official said.
At least 14 people, including two policemen, have beeninjured in the clashes between the two groups as well asbetween the police and the Siddi community members at Madhupurand Jhambur villages, Superintendent of Police Hitesh Joysarsaid.
"Three incidents of clashes took place between Siddiyouths and those living in Gundran village over some pettyissue over the past two days," Joysar said.
Twelve people were injured in a clash in Gundran villageyesterday.
"Today, the Madhupur residents blocked the roads in thearea as a mark of protest. They hurled stones on policemen andtorched vehicles when they went there to clear the blockade,"the SP said.
"Two policemen received injuries during the operation,"he said, adding that the situation was now under control.
In an FIR filed yesterday, one Hitesh Patel alleged thathe was beaten up by a few Siddi people, who he said, harboureda grudge against the youth of a certain community over aprevious scuffle.
The clashes then spread to Madhupur and Jhambur villages,where the Siddi community members allegedly torched vehiclesand blocked roads, the SP said.
"To control the mob, we had to fire five rounds in theair. We also lobbed 30 teargas shells. We have arrested 40people involved in attacking the policemen. We may arrest morepeople in the coming days, as both the groups involved havelodged counter complaints," he added.
Madhupur and Jhambur villages are home to the ethnicSiddi community members, who are believed to have migrated tothe area from Africa five centuries ago. PTI PJT RMTABH.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.
