A case has been registered against around 1,000 people, including a former Congress MLA, for allegedly attacking police and damaging public property during a protest by dairy farmers outside Sabar Dairy in Gujarat’s Sabarkantha district, a senior official said on Tuesday.
Police have arrested 47 people so far in connection with Monday’s violent demonstration, and a search operation is under way to trace others, including former Congress legislator Jashubhai Patel, who also serves as a director of the Sabarkantha District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union, popularly known as Sabar Dairy, Deputy Superintendent of Police A K Patel said.
According to Patel, large groups of dairy farmers had gathered outside the dairy premises near Himmatnagar town demanding an increase in milk procurement prices.
“The protesters turned violent, hurled stones at police personnel and damaged the main gate of the dairy,” Patel said. “Three policemen were injured in the incident, while four police vehicles were damaged in the stone pelting. Police fired nearly 50 teargas shells to bring the situation under control and disperse the mob.”
An FIR has been filed at the Himmatnagar ‘A’ division police station against about 1,000 persons, of whom 74, including the former MLA, have been identified.
“We have arrested 47 people so far, and efforts are on to apprehend the remaining accused,” Patel said.
“It was claimed that one Ashok Patel died during the protest. However, his post-mortem confirmed that he did not die due to any external injuries.”
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