A call for Gujarat bandh given by the Patel community on Monday evoked tepid response except at a few Patel-dominated places where markets remained closed.
Mehsana, which saw clashes on Sunday, remained peaceful, allowing the district authorities to lift curfew and prohibitory orders, but mobile-based Internet services continued under suspension in Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Rajkot, Morbi, Surat, Palanpur and Jamnagar.
“There was no incident of violence anywhere in the State. Police and other agencies like SRPF or Rapid Action Force are deployed in sensitive places,” said DGP in-charge, P.P. Pandey.
In another development, the Mehsana police filed nine cases naming 25 people, including agitation leader Lalji Patel, for clashes with policemen and violence on Sunday.
“Mehsana is peaceful and there is no impact of the bandh call anywhere,” said Mehsana Superintendent of Police Chaitanya Mandlik.
Meanwhile, a ministerial committee held a three-hour meeting with representatives of the Patel community. However, the talks remained inconclusive as two main demands — reservation and release of Hardik Patel from jail — are pending. “We have consensus on almost 80 per cent of the issues. We will meet again to discuss other issues,” government spokesperson Nitin Patel said.