Demolitions in Vadodara lead to violence, 2 die

Two persons were killed in police firing on a violent crowd protesting against the demolition of a 200-year-old dargah here. Curfew has been imposed in sensitive areas of the city.

Fifteen people were injured, 13 in firing and others in stone-pelting, at the Champaner Gate area during violent protests against demolition of the dargah of Rafikuddin Ramatullah Aulia by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC). The injured include a policeman.

Two residents of Yakoutpura died of bullet injuries. Police also used teargas shells and canes.

Trouble started when a municipal squad started demolishing the dargah, which officials said was on government land. Residents of the area began shouting slogans and then attacked the officials, Vadodara Police Commissioner Deepak Swarup said.

"Police have intensified patrolling and imposed curfew in sensitive areas. The situation is under control," Swarup said. All areas under the city police station were under curfew.

Heavy stone-pelting was also reported from Macchipith and Nyay Mandir, where the police lobbed teargas shells.

Gujarat's Principal Secretary (Home) KC Kapoor said it was not a case of communal violence. "It is a case of people blocking authorities from carrying out their duty," he said in Ahmedabad. He said paramilitary forces had been put on standby.

Police said some people from the minority community had requested the authorities and Mayor Sunil Solanki not to demolish the dargah as it was more than 200 years old. They had also requested that it be given heritage status

However, the authorities went ahead as the structure was obstructing traffic, police said.

Soon after, people from two groups started pelting each other with stones and set four shops on fire, forcing the police to fire at least 10 rounds and more than 30 teargas shells.

Swarup said civic authorities in Vadodara had 15 days ago started a drive against illegal structures. "Any structure coming in the way of implementing the master plan, whether any religious place or houses of senior officers, are being removed," he said.

"In the morning, there was a meeting between senior leaders, the municipal commissioner and the mayor," Swarup said.