Asaram ashram issue: Ahmedabad bandh turns violent

Ahmedabad, July 18: Situation worsened in many parts of Ahmedabad on Friday as bandh called to protest against the death of two boys Dipesh Vaghela (10)and Abhishek Vaghela (11), of Asaram Bapu’s ashram, under mysterious circumstances turned violent with protesters attacking busses in many parts of the city.

Sporadic incidence of violence is being reported from different parts of the city. Meanwhile, supporters of Asaram Bapu attacked the media persons during a press conference called by Asaram Bapu's ashram in Ahmedabad.

Incidents of stone pelting on Ahmedabad Municipal Trasport Service (AMTS) buses were reported from the Nirnaynagar and Sabarmati area of the city, police added.

Chaiman of the AMTS, Praveen Patel, said that the bus services to sensitive areas have been cancelled.

"We have stopped buse services to Nirnaynagar, Vadaj, Sabarmati, Chandlodia and nearby areas for the safety of our staff and buses. However, the service in other areas of city will continue as pre schedule," Patel said.

Maninagar, the constituency of Chief Minister Narendra Modi, has also been affected as people tried to block the roads in the area.

Nirnaynagar has been most affected as clashes broke down between the police and people. Police used lathicharge to disperse the mob, which led to many injured.

The bandh call was given by the resident of Ranip area protesting against the mysterious death two boys studying in a Gurukul on July 5. They demanded judicial inquiry into the incident.
,br> The roads in Vadaj, Sabarmati and Chandlodia areas, which are in close proximity to the deceased boys' house, were swarming with people since morning.

The Gujarat Congress is supporting the bandh call given reportedly by angry citizens of the textile city.

The death of two students of the gurukul of Bapu Asharam in Sabarmati has led to vehement protests in Ahmedabad leading to clashes between police and the protestors.

When contacted with Asha Ram Bapu he denied all such accusations and has said he will certainly cooperate with the police.

All this happened as two students aged around 11 were found missing and later found dead on July 5 from the Sabarmati river bed. Parents of the children and many others say that children were killed to conduct religious ritual by people in Ashram.

Opposition Congress blamed the government for the poor condition of the law and order in Gujarat and also its failure to trace the culprit. State Congress President Siddharth Patel also demanded a judicial probe into the death of two boys.

Father of one of the student has been on indefinite fast and his condition is said to be deteriorating. The parents of the two have approached the Chief Minister and the Governor and demanded that the investigations be carried out by an independent agency as; they believe their sons have been killed for part of some ‘black magic’ ritual.

Source by zeenews.com