VADODARA, Sept 6: Tension gripped Dashrath village in the Chhani police station area on Saturday night when the police fired three rounds and exploded 10 teargas shells to disperse rioting mobs of the same community. Four policemen reportedly received minor injuries from stone-pelting. Four people have been arrested in this connection, while the police were on the lookout for 14 more.The riot in the Rajput-dominated Dashrath village, according to the police, had its genesis in the panchayat elections of December 1997. Deputy sarpanch Jitsinh Chauhan reportedly nursed a grudge against Parshottambhai Solanki, whose wife defeated his supporter Bhagubhai in the elections. There had been several verbal duels between the two groups in the past eight months, officials said.
Arguments and abuses between members of the two groups triggered an attack on a phone booth last night, escalating into stone-pelting.
After a mobile van desptached by the City Control room failed to bring the situation under control, reinforcements were sent, with the police firing three rounds in the air and lobbying teargas shells.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.