AAP-led farmers’ rally turns violent in Gujarat, police fire teargas shells after stones hurled, say protesters intended to…

At least the police personnel sustained injuries when a ‘mahapanchayat’ organised by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for farmers in Botad district of Gujarat, turned violent as stones were hurled at cops who responded with tear smoke shelling to disperse the crowd.

How violence unfolded at Gujarat farmers’ rally?

AAP said its farmer cell leader for Gujarat, Rajubhai Karpada, was addressing the rally when the cops arrived, and soon violent clashes broke out between farmers and police, who fired tear gas shells. In a statement, AAP claimed that some of its leaders were placed under house arrest to prevent them from attending the rally.

According to the police, the ‘mahapanchayat’ rally in Haddad village on Sunday evening was organised without permission from authorities, and participants hurled stones at the cops when asked to disperse.

“The ‘mahapanchayat’ was organised illegally. These people gathered in the village with the intention of causing damage to the market yard. When police asked them to disperse, they threw stones at us, which damaged a police vehicle,” Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Sharma said, adding that police were prompted to use force and lob teargas shells to disperse the mob.

The officer said three policemen were injured in the incident, are undergoing treatment at a hospital.  “Around 20 persons have been detained, but the final count may rise as police are conducting combing operations”, he said, adding that the situation is under control now.

What did AAP say?

Meanwhile, according to AAP, farmers had gathered in Haddad village in large numbers to participate in the “kisan mahapanchayat” organised against alleged corruption at the local market yard. However, the party’s state chief Isudan Gadhvi and other leaders were detained before they could reach the venue, AAP claimed.

AAP MLA Gopal Italia condemned police action on farmers, alleging that it was carried out the behest of the ruling BJP government. “AAP leader Rajubhai Karpada had raised his voice against the practice of the BJP’s associates looting farmers in the market yard. The BJP and police deliberately disturbed the peaceful agitation,” he said.

(With PTI inputs)