Police reported on Saturday that one person is believed to have died in confrontations that broke out on Friday night in Gujarat’s Junagadh district after a dargah was given notice by local body officials to show documentation or face clearance of an alleged encroachment.
The dargah received a notice from Junagadh Municipal Corporation requesting the presentation of its documentation within five days. 500 to 600 individuals gathered near the Majewadi Gate near the dargah and, incensed by the purported anti-encroachment campaign, threw rocks at police officers, vandalised property, and set fire to police cars.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Junagadh, Ravi Teja Vasamsetty told the, “A mosque near Majewadi Gate was given notice by the Junagadh Municipal Corporation to present documents within five days. Around 500-600 people gathered there yesterday. The police were trying to convince protestors not to block the road.”
“Stones were pelted at around 10.15 pm and people attacked police. A Lathicharge was conducted by police to disperse the crowd. Some police personnel got injured in this incident. We have rounded up 174 people. A civilian has died prima facie due to stone pelting but it will be clear after a postmortem report. Further investigation is underway,” the SP said.
#WATCH | A mosque near Majewadi Gate was given notice by the Junagadh Municipal Corporation to present the documents within 5 days. Around 500-600 people had gathered there yesterday. The police were convincing them not to block the road. Stones were pelted at around 10.15 pm and… pic.twitter.com/U5YfQe6R04
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2023
