Patel agitation: Centre rushes 5,000 paramilitary troops to Gujarat; Rajnath Singh speaks to CM

New Delhi: A day after violence erupted in Gujarat during stir for quota by Patel community, curfew has been clamped in parts of Ahmedabad, Surat and Mehsana districts and security stepped up in the wake of the state-wide band on Wednesday called by agitation leader Hardik Patel.

Patel Agitation: Fresh clashes break out at Akhbarnagar circle in Ahmedabad pic.twitter.com/SnkbEYOkZ6

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About 5,000 paramilitary personnel were rushed to Gujarat to keep the situation in control. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel this morning and assured her of full central help to tackle the crisis.

Read: Patel agitation: Hardik calls for 'Gujarat Bandh', state tense

About 5,000 personnel of Rapid Action Force, CRPF and BSF have been sent to assist the local administration in maintaining law and order, especially in all curfew bound areas. "The Home Ministry is in constant touch with the Gujarat government and additional forces have been rushed as requested by the state government," a senior official said.

Read: Violence spreads in Gujarat, curfew imposed in Surat, Mehsana

The prompt central government action came considering that Gujarat has witnessed many communal clashes in the past, the official said.

Members of Patel community resorted to arson, stone-pelting and vandalism after brief detention of their 22-year-old leader Hardik Patel, following which curfew was tonight imposed in three towns of North Gujarat and some areas of Surat.

Read: Hardik Patil: Know the man behind the movement

As the news of detention of Patel spread, violence broke out first here and later spread to other cities like Surat, Mehsana, Rajkot and some interior areas of the state. He was later released. Paramilitary forces like State Reserve Police Force, BSF and Rapid Action Force have been deployed in cities like Ahmedabad and Mehsana. However, no casualties have been reported in the state so far.

Read: Lotus will not bloom, Hardik Patel dares BJP in a public rally in Ahmedabad

In Ahmedabad, city buses and police posts were set on fire, while stone pelting was reported from various parts of Gujarat, state control room officials said. Police had to resort to lathicharge and lob teargas shells to control the situation.

Patel has called for a state-wide bandh today to press their demand for reservation.