Guj: Stone-pelting in Surat during Bharat Bandh, cop injured

Incidents of road blockade and stone-pelting were reported during the `Bharat Bandh' called by various organisations to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Gujarat on Wednesday, police said. A police officer was injured in stone-pelting in Surat. A group of masked persons pelted stones at police personnel near Madina Masjid in Limbayat locality of Surat, injuring an assistant sub-inspector, a senior official said. The police brought the situation under control after dispersing the crowd with baton-charge, and patrolling has been stepped up in the area, he said.

Markets remain closed

At least 70 persons were detained after they tried to block a road by burning tyres in Katargam area of Surat city. Protesters also burned tyres to block the Ahmedabad- Rajkot national highway at Kerala village, causing a huge traffic jam near Bavla town in Ahmedabad district. Over a dozen protesters were detained and the traffic was restored, the officer said. Markets remained closed in parts of Vadodara, Bharuch and Surat cities. Western part of Bharuch city and nearby villages wore a deserted look.

The shut-down had a visible impact at Kurchan, Luwara, Palej and some other villages near Bharuch city. In Bhavnagar city, 24 members of the Bahujan Kranti Morcha (BKM) were detained when they were appealing people to close their shops. BKM members were also seen appealing people to keep their establishments closed in parts of Vadodara. BKM and some other organisations had called for the Bandh to protest against the recently passed CAA and the proposed NRC.