Pulwama attack: Vehicles torched as violence erupts during candlelight protest march in Ahmedabad

A clash broke out between members of two communities after an altercation occurred between a group of boys at a candlelight protest march against the Pulwama terror attack late on Saturday in Ahmedabad’s Shahpur locality in Gujarat, police said.

Stones were pelted and vehicles were torched during the clashes. Images and effigies of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan were also set on fire during the protest march.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone II), Panna Momaya said tear gas shells had to be fired to bring the situation under control.

"A candlelight march was passing through a communally sensitive locality in Shahpur area when a clash broke out between members of two communities," the official said.

"Primarily, it appears some misunderstanding about stones being pelted by members of a procession passing from the same locality led to the clash. We are still investigating what started the clash," she said.

The DCP said there was no clear picture at the moment of people injured or property damaged though she added that the situation had been brought under control.

The police have rounded up around 15-20 people who were allegedly involved in the clash at CCTV footage is also being looked at to identify those that started the violence.

Various other trade associations also observed a bandh to register their protest against the attack on the CRPF jawans in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

At least 40 CRPF personnel were killed in the attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Thursday. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) has claimed responsibility for the attack.

(With inputs from PTI)