Mob targets Harin in City flareup

An angry mob in Dariapur targeted Ahmedabad MP and Union minister of state for defence Harin Pathak, who was on a visit to the area with top police officals, on Tuesday morning.

Muslims were observing a bandh after ayouth was murdered on the eve of Bar Id in the same area.

Mr. Pathak said initially his tour passed off peacefully. "The trouble started when we were about to leave the area." A mob pelted stones at him and others accompanying him. However Mr. Pathak escaped unhurt.

Mr. Pathak said he has discussed the incident with the minister of state for home, Mr. Haren Pandya, and senior police officials are monitoring th situation.

The bandh organised by Muslims in the Dariapur area against the recent killing of a Muslim youth during the Bakr Id passed off peacefully, barring some incidents of stone-pelting on the police. The police has arrested about 200 people for their alleged involvement in stone-pelting and rioting. The police had to open fire and burst teargas shells to dispersse two groups of people indulging in stone-throwing and arson in the sensitive Kalupur and Dariapur localities late last night.

In the Durga Mata Ni Pol of Dariapur area, rumour-mongers were in action for the last two days that eggs and pieces of beef were thrown on the street from some houses.

The police fired one round in the air in the Kalupur area and burst about 60 teargas shells to control the mob in these two localities.

A shop was also set on fire by the mob. However, nobody was injured in the violence, they said. The police said the situation was under control.

Republished from Asian Age