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* One person dead during violence in Banaskantha district of Gujarat* Rapid Action Force reaches Surat
* Army called in Ahmedabad, likely to hold flag march in the city soon
* Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeals for peace in Gujarat, says violence will not benefit anybody
* Incidents of minor violence reported from Bapu Nagar area
5,000 paramilitary force rushed to Gujarat
Ahmedabad: About 5,000 paramilitary personnel were today rushed to Gujarat in the wake of violence in several cities during agitation for quota by Patel community.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel this morning and assured her of full central help to tackle the situation.
About 5,000 personnel of Rapid Action Force, CRPF and BSF have been sent to assist the local administration in maintaining law and order, especially in all curfew bound areas.
"The Home Ministry is in constant touch with the Gujarat government and additional forces have been rushed as requested by the state government," a senior official said.
Several areas put under curfew
After widespread incidents of violence across the state of Gujarat, curfew was imposed in Mehsana city and the towns of Unjha and Visnagar in the district, the collector of Mehsana said here today.
"Curfew has been imposed in Mehsana city as well as Unjha and Visnagar towns after incidents of violence in Mehsana district," Mehsana District Collector Lochan Sehra told PTI. Mehsana is around 90 km from here.
The district administration also called in paramilitary forces to control the situation, the collector said.
READ MORE: Patel leader Hardik detained; released following backlash
The Ministry of Home Affairs is in constant touch with Gujarat government and additional forces have been rushed as requested by state government.
When asked about the number of incidents of violence in Mehsana district, the collector said that around two to three incidents of violence occurred today.
Mob blocked roads in the towns of Unjha and Visnagar, after which curfew was imposed to control the situation, the collector said.
The collector said that no casualty has been reported so far.
Hardik Patel calls for 'Gujarat Bandh'
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Hardik Patel, who was briefly detained over his hunger strike to demand OBC reservation for the Patel community, has called for a state-wide bandh today to intensify the agitation.
He also urged his community members to maintain peace as several parts of Gujarat witnessed incidents of violence.
"I make an appeal to maintain peace and keep calm. I give a call for Gujarat bandh tomorrow (Wednesday). This decision has been taken by Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti considering widespread violence in the state," Hardik, convener of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti which is spearheading the agitation, said on Tuesday night.
The young leader was detained earlier on Tuesday in Ahmedabad by the city police when he sat on a hunger strike without taking prior permission. He was later released by the police.
As the news of detention of Hardik spread, violence broke out first in Ahmedabad and later spread to other cities like Surat, Mehsana, Rajkot and some interior areas of the state.
CM regrets over cops crackdown at Patel's rally
On the other hand, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has expressed regret over the crackdown by police on agitating members of Patel community at GMDC ground in Ahmedabad and announced an inquiry into the matter
In her public message, she also said that necessary action will be taken against those found guilty in the inquiry.
Anandiben also appealed to maintain peace as members of Patel community resorted to violence over the issue across the city.
"My sincere appeal to the people of Gujarat to maintain peace and not to indulge in activities disrupting the law and order across the state," she said in her message.
The Patel community of Gujarat has been agitating for around a month to fulfil their demands of reservation under the Other Backward Class (OBC) status.
