Violent Clashes in Gujarat Might Affect Diamond Trade :

Protests by Gujarat’s community seeking reservation under OBC quota turned violent on Tuesday, 26th August. After police took Hardik Patel, the convener of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, into custody, violent clashes broke out in different parts of Gujarat – , , , .

Hardik Patel was released shortly, but the violence had spread by then.

According to a PTI report, clashes were reported in Vadaj, Vastrapur, Nikol and Paldi areas of Ahmedabad. Stone pelting was reported in Vadaj area after the Patel community members tried to enforce the bandh. "Police lobbed a tear-gas shell and also baton-charged crowd when two groups of Patels and dalits clashed with each other," PTI quoted police inspector DR Dhamal of city control room as saying.

Shops have been vandalized and at least four buses burned down in several areas. Protesters also burned down two government vehicles in Surat. Policemen were attacked in Kapodra area of the city.

A curfew has been imposed in both Surat and Ahmedabad. According to a DNA report, Section 144 was imposed in areas under Kapodra Police Station and Sarthana Police Station in Surat on the night in question. News reports have also carried stories of curfew being imposed in Mehsana city and the towns of Unjha and Visnagar in the district on the orders of the Mehsana collector.

With Surat and other parts of Gujarat being a huge hub for diamond manufacturing and trade, these clashes are likely to have a damaging effect on business, at least for the short term. Besides manufacturing units and retail areas being shut because of temporary curfew, morale in the area is likely to be affected for some time. If the curfew is on for an extended duration, more severe backlashes like new potential investors postponing or rethinking plans of investing in the state could be seen. Besides diamond trade Gujarat’s Mehsana is also famous for pearl manufacturing.

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