Army deployed in three Gujarat cities

Ahmedabad: Army troops were called in Surat, Rajkot and Mehsana cities of Gujarat on Thursday to contain tension after violence erupted over an agitation by the Patel community demanding OBC status and reservation, an army spokesman said. Army personnel were earlier deployed in Ahmedabad on Wednesday after violence broke out following the arrest and subsequent release of Hardik Patel, the convenor of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), a body of Patels that is in the forefront of the agitation, the spokesman said. A state-wide shutdown was observed in Gujarat on Wednesday, a day after a Patidar mega-rally was held here demanding reservations in the education and jobs.