Over 150 workers of the BJP and the VHP were detained at 12 different places in Surat by the police while observing chakka jam on Wednesday. The detainees included presidents of local units of the BJP, VHP and RSS.

As part of the protest over the Amarnath Shrine Board land row, several activists of the VHP, BJP, RSS and other allied groups gathered at places decided by their leaders and observed the jam for sometime before they were detained.

The situation near the Surat railway station was critical.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone 3, V Chandrashekhar rushed to the spot and found the police standing idle.

A verbal argument ensued between the DCP and ACP M V Mehta in public when the former ordered his men to start detaining the protestors. The fight subsided after an inspector intervened.

“When I reached the spot, I found the police simply standing and watching the chakka jam. I told ACP Mehta to detain the protestors, but he asked me to wait until there was a large gathering,” said Chandrashekhar.

He added: “As a supervising officer, I told him not to waste time and do as instructed. We all work for maintaining law and order in the city. But we don't have any issues between us.”

Meanwhile, Surat city BJP president Praveen Naik, with three municipal councillors, party workers and VHP activists, participated in the chakka jam at Adajan Circle.

A similar programme was conducted at Bhagal Cross Road where Surat Municipal Corporation Standing Committee chairman Mukesh Dalal participated. He was also detained.

The situation in Varachha was found to be a little critical with the protestors carrying banners and chanting slogans.

The protestors tried to disrupt normal life in the area and stopped two city buses and punctured their tyres.

The police arrested six people and detained many others.

However, in Surat district, BJP and VHP workers gathered at chowks in Bardoli and Mandvi talukas, disrupted the traffic.

The police detained 19 people there.