Patidar agitation spearhead and Congress leader Hardik Patelwas on Monday detained by police soon after he drove into Surat to hold aprotest at the site of the devastating fire on Friday that claimed 22 younglives.
Patel had threatened to undertake a hunger strike at thesite of the fire in the city’s Sarthana area if the Gujarat government did nottake action against the Surat mayor and other fire department officials overthe tragedy that occurred in the Takshashila Arcade building.
The Congress had sought police permission to hold theprotest but it was denied. Surat Police Commissioner Satish Sharma toldreporters that despite denial of permission he was on his way to the fire site.
Sharma added: “The permission could not be given, alsobecause he was attacked by a member of his rival group when he visited the siteyesterday (Sunday) and it was a question of his protection. And then, we cannotallow him to visit the area everyday.”
Patel was later released.
Meanwhile, a senior member of the Patidar Anamat AndolanSamiti (PAAS) of Surat Dharmik Malaviya said he was detained from Kamrejhighway at the entry point to Surat when he was on his way to the house ofreservation agitation leader Alpesh Kathiriya, who is currently in jail in asedition case.