Police lob teargas shells & fire in the air to disperse mob of migrant workers

GNN | Mar 30, 2020, 2:27 PM IST|

• Migrant textile workers clash with cops over lockdown
• Heavy stone pelting in Pandesara

Gujarat News Network

Surat, March 30, 2020: More than 1000 migrant workers mostly employed in textile mills clashed with the police in Vadod area of Pandesara on the southern periphery of Surat city late on Sunday night.
The agitated workers mostly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were demanding permission to go to their native places while the police teams were enforcing lockdown and asked these people to stay put in their homes.
Police lobbed teargas shells and fired in the air to disperse the violent mob. The police force comprising more than 250 policemen, SRP (State Reserve Police) battalion personnel and cops from SOG (Special Operations Group), Prevention of Crime Branch (PCB) and Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) rushed to the spot to control the situation.
The workers also alleged they were not getting regular food supply and they were also not being allowed to go to their native places.
During the clash, the angry workers also indulged in stone throwing. Several police vehicles were damaged in the incident.
According to Surat Police Commissioner RB Brahmbhatt, "The residents were demanding permission to let them go while police were requesting them to stay at their homes. The situation turned tense and the crowd attacked police. The situation was brought under control.”