Midnight terror in Junagadh as 10 rounds fired in group clash

RAJKOT: Police have stepped up vigil and started combing operations in Junagadh town where utter lawlessness prevailed on Tuesday night as violent clashes broke out between members of three gangs.

The town thundered with gun shots as miscreants opened at least 10 rounds from country-made weapons and attacked each other with sharp weapons, sticks and pipes around midnight. Four persons were injured in the clashes and condition of one identified as Rafiq Pinjara (25) is said to be critical. He was rushed to the Rajkot Civil Hospital.

On Wednesday, four areas namely Sukhnath Chowky, Jaloria Road, Blochwada and Jamalvadi, dominated by the Muslim community, observed a complete bandh fearing more violence. Twelve persons were also detained for the violence.

Police recovered six empty cartridges and eight unfired cartridges from the spot. Three injured persons — Sohail Miyana, Mohsin alis Moin Miyana and Sohail Theba, all 23 years, are being treated in Junagadh Civil Hospital.

According to police,three gangs were involved in this clash, which was the fallout of last week’s car accident near Vadal village in which local Congress leader Ibrahim Qureshi’s brother Wahab and some others were injured while two died. Dadu Bloch alias Darbar and his accomplices, the accused in Tuesday night violence, had gone to the hospital to check out on some injured persons. However, associates of Sohail Theba, who runs a gang, entered into a fight with them and forced them to leave the hospital.

“Bloch and his aides were waiting for a chance to extract revenge from Theba gang. On Tuesday night, four persons were sitting in Sukhnath Chowk when the Bloch gang members reached there and launched an attack on them. They first hurled glass bottles and stones at the Theba gang members. Other associates of Bloch armed with weapons also reached the spot and some of them and started firing indiscriminately in the air. One bullet hit Rafiq Pinjara,” said MK Vala, police inspector, A-division, Junagadh.

Police booked Dadu Bloch, Dilavar Bloch, Akram Patel, Jonty Bloch and Samuniya (full name not known) for attempt to murder, rioting and other sections of IPC.

Additional police force has been deployed in these ares to thwart any escalation of tension. It is learnt that other assailants have fled from Junagadh.