Some amount of normalcy has returned to Gujarat with markets and offices opening on Thursday afternoon. The Army stands deployed in areas where curfew has been imposed in Ahmedabad, and paramilitary forces deployed in other parts of the state.

 

The Gujarat High Court, meanwhile, has asked the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner to file a report by Friday on the violence and police action. The court was acting on a PIL filed on Thursday.

 

In the State Assembly, the Congress disrupted the second day of the session forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House during Question Hour. The Congress MLAs have been suspended from the House for the day.

 

Congress lawmaker Raghavji Patel demanded debate on the violence that has claimed nine lives in last two days and destroyed public property valued at crores of rupees.

 

The violence was triggered by the brief detention on Tuesday night of 22-year-old Hardik Patel, who is leading an agitation demanding OBC status and reservation benefits for the Patel community.

 

Patel called for a State bandh on Wednesday, a day of violence which saw protesters torching 100 buses and vandalising property. Six persons were killed in police firing and two in the rioting. One succumbed to injuries on Thursday.

 

The Army, which was called in on Wednesday to control the situation, staged flag marches in Ahmedabad and Surat on Thursday. About 113 companies of paramilitary forces have also been deployed in affected areas.

 

Schools and colleges in the State remained shut on Thursday. Mobile internet services were also suspended.

 

Train services have been affected as protesters have damaged tracks in at least eight places. 12 trains have been cancelled and 19 partially cancelled, a railway official said.

(The Hindu)