Gujarat: 13 injured in communal clash at Khambhat, houses, shops set on fire

At least 25 houses and shops were set on fire by the members of both the communities, the police said. (Express photo)

“This area has a history of communal violence. The exact reason why the clash broke out today is still under investigation. The situation has been brought under control now. We have rounded up 46 people so far. There had been stone-pelting and arson. Around 15-20 houses and shops have been set on fire but we are still assessing the damage done. No one has suffered any major injury in the case. Six of those admitted in the hospital have been discharged as well,” said Divya Mishra, Superintendent of Police, Kheda who is at present in-charge of the neighbouring district of Anand. FIR is under process, he added.

While Akhbarpura was the epicenter of the violent clash, sporadic incidents of stone-pelting and arson were also reported from nearby localities. At least 25 houses and shops were set on fire by the members of both the communities, the police said.

According to the police, the members of the two communities came face to face again on Sunday afternoon over their past clash on January 24 which had left one person dead. (Express photo)

Police also clamped an indefinite bandobast in the area after the clashes and around 100 policemen have been deployed in the area to bring back normalcy. The violence prompted the police to resort to lathicharge and also lob tear gas shells to contain the situation. According to sources, the matter spiraled out of hand as the violence continued for over an hour before the police could bring back the situation to normalcy.