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Hardik Patel, associates held ahead of fast

Quota stir leader arrested while leaving home for Nikol, released on bail in evening; says Aug 25 fast to go ahead

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Hardik Patel being detained by cops from outside his residence this morning
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The city police detained Patidar reservation leader Hardik Patel, and several of his associates, while they were on their way to take part in a symbolic fast protest. Nine of them, including Hardik, were later arrested and released, even as protests erupted at many places against the police's action.

With authorities not granting him permission for holding his indefinite fast from August 25 or allocating him a ground for the fast, Hardik had announced that he would go on a symbolic fast in a car in a parking plot at Nikol on Sunday. However, a large number of police personnel reached his home in Sola in the morning and detained him and other office bearers of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS).

Crime Branch DCP Deepan Bhadran said that nine PAAS leaders had been detained from outside Hardik's home as they were on their way to hold protests without police's permission.

Hardik, however, claimed that more than 140 people had been detained to prevent the fast. "Fifty-eight people have been detained from Nikol and Vastral. Twenty-six, who were coming from Rajkot, have been arrested in Chotila. Fifty-nine persons, including me, have been detained at my residence, which his surrounded by more than 200 police personnel," Hardik said.

Large number of police personnel were also deployed in Nikol to prevent people from gathering at the venue.

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch later registered a case under IPC Section 143 (unlawful assembly) and 186 (obstructing a public servant in discharge of his duty) against Hardik and eight others. The others include Manoj Panara, Alpesh Kathiria, Dharmik Malavia, Ketan Desai, Ravi Kavar, Kishan Chodwadia, Neev Patel, and Jatin Shiroya. A number of PAAS members and supporters gathered outside the Crime Branch office and demanded release of the detained leaders. Hardik's aide Nikhil Sawani said that they had planned to hold peaceful protests, and the police action was not justified.

"We are determined to go ahead with our August 25 protest. If anything goes wrong, it will be the state government's responsibility," he warned.

Protests also broke out at several other places. In Patan, protestors tried to disrupt traffic on the highway, while in Surat, many people were detained after they took to the streets. Some places in Saurashtra also saw protests.

After being released on bail in the evening, Hardik accused Crime Branch PI JN Chavda of misbehaving with him and other PAAS leaders. Hardik reiterated that he would proceed on fast from August 25, the third anniversary of Patidar Maharally.

"The government cannot stop my protest. If I am sent to jail, I will go on fast there," he said. Police, however, denied the allegation of misbehaviour. In another development, Alpesh Kathiria was arrested by police in an old sedition case, while PAAS member Geeta Patel and five others were booked by Nikol police for holding protest without permission.

HOW THE DRAMA UNFOLDED

  • Hardik had announced that he would go on a symbolic fast in a car in a parking plot at Nikol today. 
     
  • However, a large number of police personnel reached his home in Sola in the morning and detained him and other office bearers of PAAS.
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