Gujarat bandh: Scores of Cong leaders, supporters detained

Ahmedabad, Sep 6: More than 600 people, including Congress leaders and workers, were detained during today's bandh call given by the party demanding resignation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi over IPS officer D G Vanzara's letter.

Tight security is being maintained across the state to prevent any untoward incidence, police said.

Congress workers were out on the streets to enforce the shut down, which has evoked a mixed response in the state. The party workers and supporters tried to stop buses and trains form commuting here, but police detained them.

Schools and colleges were functioning as usual in most parts of the state, officials said.

In the old city in Ahmedabad, Vadaj and some eastern parts, 80 per cent establishments were closed early morning.

Over 60,000 police and other security personnel have been deployed across the state to maintain law and order situation in the wake of bandh call, they said.

"Till now we have not received any reports of untoward incidents of violence," police said.

Twenty-four State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) and six Rapid Action Force (RAF) battalions have been directed to be on alert to assist state police, they said.

Crime Branch personnel have also been directed in every city to maintain vigil in sensitive areas.

According to reports coming from different cities and district headquarters, police detained several Congress leaders and workers, who came out in support of the bandh.

In Vadodara, the bandh call evoked mix response in the morning while police detained Congress leaders and supporters who were trying to close business establishments in Mandvi, Karolia, Sama, Karelibaug and Pratapganj areas in the city.

The Congress has given a bandh call demanding resignation of the chief minister after an letter by suspended IPS officer Vanzara slammed Modi and former minister of state for Home Amit Shah.

In his explosive resignation letter, Vanzara claimed that he and his men were merely implementing the conscious policy of 'zero tolerance' towards terrorism of the state government.

Vanzara, who is a prime accused in four encounter cases, also said that, "place of this government instead of being in Gandhinagar, should either be in Taloja central prison at Navi Mumbai or in Sabarmati Central Prison at Ahmedabad."