Gujarat clashes kill 8; Army stages march

The Army and 5,000 personnel from paramilitary forces descended on Gujarat on Wednesday after the violence that marred the Patel community’s agitation for OBC status left eight dead, including a policeman, and scores injured. Curfew was imposed in several parts of the state and Internet connectivity was curbed to stop unwanted and unwarranted exchange of messages on social media. "Among the civilians who lost their lives, five are from Ahmedabad and two from Sabarkantha district. All of them succumbed to police firing,” a senior police officer said on condition of anonymity. A constable succumbed to injuries sustained during stone throwing in Surat. Large crowds continued to gather on main roads and streets across the state, including in Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Patan, Mehsana, Kalol, Himmatnagar and Palanpur.Reports of crowds burning government property, blocking national highways, removing railway tracks and targeting offices of several BJP leaders continued to pour in throughout the day. The residence of state Home Minister Rajni Patel, Law Minister Pradipsinh Jadeja, Morbi MLA Kantilal Amrutiya and Unjha MLA Naranbhai were targeted.The situation remained fluid during the day as reports of state government moving in paramilitary forces for deployment to various cities and towns continued to pour in till late in the evening.   DHNS