The trouble arose when some eggs were found thrown beside a temple being constructed at the old bus-stand premises in Vyara late on Monday. Angered, the mob took to streets and started damaging shops and establishments in the vicinity.

Seven shops and establishments in Islampura, the old bus stand area and adjoining areas were torched even as the State Reserve Police and Home Guards were pressed into service. Three policemen, who attempted to stop the mob, were injured when the mob resorted to stone throwing. The police had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.

While the police took one Kasimkhan Pathan in custody, believed to have thrown the eggs, seven others Sanjay Devraj Luhar, Dilip Hemraj Luhar, Kammu alias Karansingh Ghadediya, Rakeshkumar Shirsat, Sandeep Dhansukh Rana Makan alias Mahendra Patel and Bhuriya were also arrested by the police for rioting and burning places late on Tuesday evening.

No arrests were made on Wednesday, the Vyara police said.Meanwhile, district and taluka-level BJP leaders met District Superintendent of Police B D Vaghela, who has been camping in the town for the past 24 hours, and expressed their anger at the incident which provoked violence in the town.

Vyara police station PI B K Morabia told Express Newsline that property worth Rs 1.5 lakh was damaged by the mob.

Police officers of Vyara, including Circle Police Inspectors B D Chaudhari, B K Morabia, S S Bareth and others have been deployed to ensure that peace is maintained and no untoward incident takes place.

Meanwhile, in another incident in Vyara on Wednesday a truck carrying oxen overturned, killing five and injuring several.