The death toll in the violence across India’s Gujarat state has risen to nine on Thursday, reports The Hindu.
The aggrieved Patel community reportedly “continues its agitation demanding OBC status and reservation benefits”.
The Hindu said the violence was triggered on Tuesday night by the brief arrest of Hardik Patel, the 22-year-old leader of the agitation. Mr. Patel called for a State bandh on Tuesday, a day of violence which saw protesters torching 100 buses and vandalising property. Six persons were killed in police firing and two in the rioting. One succumbed to injuries on Thursday.
The Army, which was called in on Wednesday to control the situation, staged flag marches in Ahmedabad and Surat on Thursday, according to the report.
More than 50 trains are said to have been cancelled or diverted as mobs damaged tracks at several places.