Security stepped up as clashes erupt on day 2

Violence spread to the 132 ft Ring Road where a newly opened car showroom,Patidar Motors,was mobbed and seven cars damaged. Jagdish Patel,the owner of the showroom,said: “The showroom was closed on account of Rakshabandhan. But when my helpers were resting,six men came on three bikes and broke the glasses of seven cars parked inside my showroom. We have noted down the bike numbers and a police complaint has been filed.”

Khandwawala said the violence was triggered as tempers rose following proposed demolition of a roadside temple by municipal authorities.

The temple demolition was proposed following a petition filed by a resident of Shakuntal Bungalows,Jagdish Patel,in the Gujarat High Court. The court had reportedly issued demolition orders to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.

At this,other residents of the Shakuntal Bungalows near Bhuyangdev Crossroads started demonstrating outside the temple to oppose the drive.

According to the Ghatlodia police,tension further simmered when clashes erupted between Patels and Rabaris over alleged molestation bid by two Rabari community men on two Patel girls. The clashes on Tuesday had left five people injured and several vehicles burnt.

The city police say that the incident has become an episode of retribution. Sachin Badshah,Deputy Commissioner of Police on duty at Ghatlodia,said,“Both communities are now unstoppable and are simply damaging properties of each other for the last three days,leaving aside the main reason behind the clashes.”