After a night of arson and vandalism, tension mounted in Gujarat on Wednesday as six people died in widespread violence sparked by Patel community's demand to declare them a part of the Other Backward Caste and grant them reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.
Flag marches were held in the city on Wednesday evening by the Army amidst reports of sporadic violence in some parts of the state.
The violence which started on Tuesday after a massive rally of the Patel community led by 22-year-old firebrand orator Hardik Patel has claimed seven lives in the state, police said.
Notwithstanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for peace, protesters resorted to arson, stone-pelting and attacks on public and private properties. "I appeal to all brothers and sisters of Gujarat that they should not resort to violence. The only 'Mantra' must be 'Shanti' (peace)," said Modi.
The bandh call given by Patel leaders brought Gujarat's biggest city Ahmedabad to a grinding halt.
Curfew has been clamped in Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Mehasana, Patan, Palanpur, Unjha, Visnagar and Jamnagar towns.
Apart from Ahmedabad, two companies of Army were deployed in Surat and another two in Mehasana. About 5,000 paramilitary personnel have also been to brought to Gujarat.
Earlier in the day, campaign leader Hardik Patel hit out at the police for its action, saying, "We were treated like terrorists, and violence broke out only after police mercilessly beat up the protestors," he said in an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN.
He has emerged as the powerful face of a massive campaign of the affluent and influential Patels or Patidars who are demanding reservation in government jobs and colleges.
The Patels have for decades been loyal supporters of the BJP. Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has said they cannot be added to the list of castes entitled to quotas because Gujarat has hit the cap of 50% reservation ordered by the Supreme Court.
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