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Accident sparks heavy rioting in Navsari village

SURAT: A petty quarrel over collision of two bikes took a violent turn in Vijalpore village of Navsari district late Monday night as heavy rioting broke out between groups of two communities.


At least four policemen and five villagers were injured in the clashes that erupted in Sambhaji Nagar locality at around 9:30pm.

Police had to lob atleast 50 tear gas shells and fire several rounds in the air to disperse the rioters who took to heavy stone pelting.

According to sources, Sambhaji Nagar near Vitthal Mandi is the spot where people gather in the night to fill water for their homes. Dalits and Rajputs communities here have been at loggerheads for a long time now. In the meantime, two bikes collided with each other, leading to heated verbal altercation. Soon, people from both communities gathered and there was a free for all. They also pelted stones at the police teams that tried to bring the situation under control.

Even as police are yet to make any arrests, the village wore a deserted look on Monday with tension palpable in the air.

SN Sagar, police inspector, Navsari rural, said , “We have deployed heavy police bandobast in the affected area. More than 100 policemen have been deployed to avert escalation of tension.”

“Several rioters have fled the village after the incident. But we will start making arrests soon,” Sagar added.

“When we tried to bring the situation under control, some people pelted stones on us. We called for additional help from Navsari district headquarters too,” said an official who sustained head injury in stone pelting.

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