Violent clashes erupt in Gujarat over 'illegal' dargah, resulting in 1 fatality and 5 injured cops

As Gujarat's Junagadh was engulfed in violence over a trespassing drive, one person was killed and at least five policemen were injured after an enraged mob pelted stones and set fire to vehicles in protest against a civic body's plan to demolish a dargah to remove alleged "encroachment", said the Saturday officials.

Video of the incident, which took place on Friday night, shows rocks being thrown at police vans as protesters took to the streets to express their anger. In the clip, the agitators were heard shouting and screaming near the town of Majevadi Darwaja.

Police used tear gas shells and batons to bring the protesters under control and arrested around 174 people. The body of the slain civilian was sent for post-mortem, although the police suspected that he had been killed due to stone-pelting.

According to Superintendent of Police Ravi Teji Vasamsetty, on June 14, the Junagadh Municipal Corporation issued a summons to a mosque near Majevadi Darwaja to submit documents related to land ownership. "Upset by the announcement, around 500-600 people gathered near the religious structure on Friday evening and blocked the roads," Vesamsetty said.

Police said they were trying to persuade protesters to reach a peaceful solution to the matter. Although the protesters' road blockade was initially removed, stones were pelted at the police at around 10.15 pm in the night.

Shouting slogans and agitated over the dargah announcement, the protesters attacked the police personnel when they tried to challenge them.

Police teams have been deployed in the area to prevent any escalation of the incident and efforts are on to nab all those involved in the clash.