Thirteen persons have been arrested in connection with the communal violence at Vadavali village in Gujarat’s Patan district that left two dead, police said on Monday.
"We arrested 13 persons on Sunday after a combing operation in villages neighbouring Vadavali from where the crowd came and attacked residents," said C P Sadiya, inspector of Chanasma police station.
"Those arrested so far belong to Sunsar and Dharpuri villages. More arrests are likely today (Monday)," the officer said.
Two persons had died and at least 10 others sustained severe injuries after violence broke out following a minor fight between two students of different communities on Saturday over a petty issue.
Some vehicles and a few houses were also set on fire by the clashing crowd.
Cross-FIRs were filed at Chanasma police station against 45 accused and a crowd comprising over 3,000 people under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 302 (murder), 147, 148, 149 (unlawful assembly), 395, 397 (robbery), 435 and 436 (mischief by fire).
Sadiya said over 100 police personnel and two companies of State Reserve Police were posted at the village.
Security Beefed up in Vadavali
Security was stepped up on Sunday in Vadavali.
“A total of 150 police personnel from Patan and Banaskantha districts are stationed at the village, apart from two companies of State Reserve Police and several senior police officials. The situation is peaceful,” Patan Superintendent of Police A G Chauhan said on Sunday.
Sticks, Rods and Other Weapons
The violence started following a minor fight between two students of different communities, an official of Chanasana police station said.
Soon, the dispute escalated and the members of the two communities attacked each other with sticks, iron rods and other weapons.
Police fired seven rounds in the air and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the mob who torched vehicles and some houses.
The injured persons have been admitted to a hospital, police said.
(With inputs from PTI and Scroll.in)
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