Vadodara: 13 injured as groups clash, set fire to houses and shops

According to sources, the members of both the communities had come face to face on Sunday over an unresolved issue from the past.

“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. We have rounded up 46 people so far. There had been stone pelting and major arsoning. Around 15-20 houses and shops have been set on fire but we are still assessing the damage. No one has suffered any major injury. Six of those admitted in the hospital have been discharged as well,” said Divya Mishra, Superinte-ndent of Police, Kheda who is at present incharge of the neighbouring district of Anand. FIR is under process, he added.

Police also clamped an indefinite bandobast in the area after the clashes and around 100 policemen have been deployed in the area. 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 control it.