New Delhi: The communally-sensitive Khambhat town in Gujarat’s Anand district saw riots in which 30 houses and shops were set fire to, a day before US President Donald Trump addressed a packed house at the Motera Stadium event in Ahmedabad.
According to police sources, riots between two communities broke out on Sunday afternoon and soon escalated into heavy stone pelting between the two. As many as 25 vehicles, including auto-rickshaws, two-wheelers and bicycles were vandalised. Commercial property too were set on fire.
The riots happened in the Akbarpura area of Khambhat which has seen a series of such clashes in the past. What triggered violence on Sunday is still unclear.
Around 13 people were injured. The condition of one injured person is understood to be critical.
Communally sensitive Akbarpura area of Khambhat town in Anand district witnesses heavy stone pelting. #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/pd1qdHVOcp
— TOI Ahmedabad (@TOIAhmedabad) February 23, 2020
“The situation is under control now,” Anand superintendent of police Divya Mishra told Times of India. He also said that a company of Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed.
To Indian Express, Mishra said that as many as 46 people have been detained for involvement in the violence.