Hardik Patel granted unconditional bail by local court

22-year-old Hardik Patel the Patel quota stir leader who was arrested on Saturday night in Surat at Mangad Chowk ahead of his ‘Ekta March’ was released on bail by a local court.

The FIR was lodged against him and 35 others in Surat for violation prohibitory orders. Another supporting group led by Nikhil Patel and others was detained in Hirabagh locality.

Hardik’s detention and later arrest led to vehement protests by community members at some places, the Gujarat authorities have suspended mobile internet 2G and 3G services for 24 hours in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot, to curb spread of rumours.

The protest were held in several major cities such as Surat, Ahmadabad, Vadodara, Navsari, Mehsana, Jamnagar, Botad and other towns and villages of Gujarat, leading to police caning and use of tear gas on crowds opposing the detention of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convenor Hardik Patel in Surat on Saturday.

Heavy security was deployed by the Police in all major cities and towns and attempted to prevent gathering of people with prohibitory orders.

Chief Minister Anandiben held a meeting with her cabinet colleagues and top officials to take the information of the situation and appealed to the people of the state to maintain peace.

Hardik Patel accused police of harassing the Patidars even though they wanted to take out a peaceful rally. After the confinement he also claimed that Gujarat government was “harassing everybody”.