Stones pelted at police in clash over anti-encroachment drive in Junagadh, 1 dead

Clashes broke out after the civic body in the district served a notice to a mosque asking to present its documents in next five days.

A horde of people pelted stones at police officials in Gujarat's Junagadh district after clashes erupted on Friday over the civic body's demolition notice to a mosque situated near the Majewadi Gate. A civilian has reportedly died allegedly due to pelting of stones.

Crowd as seen throwing stones at police vehicle.(ANI)

According to a senior police official, a notice was served on June 14 by the Junagadh Municipal Corporation to the mosque asking for presenting its documents within five days amid the body's anti-encroachment drive. This led to a high-tension drama and around 500-600 people gathered in the Majewadi Gate area to register their anger over the notice on Friday. They were trying to block roads in the area as a sign of protest.

Police officials reached the location and tried to convince them not to block the road – the deliberation went on for about 45 minutes. “Around 10:15 pm, people started throwing stones at the police and started sloganeering. The police then lathi-charged them to disperse the crowd,” Ravi Teja Vasamsetty, superintendent of police, Junagadh, told news agency ANI.

A video has also been released by ANI where the crowd could be seen throwing stones at police vehicles with full force. People were picking stones from lanes and catapulting them at police vehicles.

Latest visuals a day after the clash show police guarding the area ensuring law and order situation. Glass panes of a local police station could be seen shattered. Two-wheelers in dilapidated condition along with stones and boulders also seen lying on the roads. However, the traffic situation in the area seems normal.