| The feud between two groups of agitating truckers over continuing the strike turned violent prompting police to open fire and stone-throwing by rival factions which left 13 people injured in Gandhigram in Gujarat, police said here on Tuesday. A mob of nearly 200 protestors set a truck ablaze on Monday night after one faction of the striking groups started operation at Kandla Port in Kutch district, Kutch police said. Senior officials, including Kutch district Superintendent of Police Subhash Trivedi rushed to the spot and lathicharged the mob. He later fired eight teargas shells to quell the clashing mob. However, on being unable to disperse them, police was "compelled to fire one round in which one person sustained injuries in the hand. The situation was soon brought under control", Trivedi told PTI. Trivedi said 109 persons have been arrested and rioting charges would be booked against them. The DSP said that the district administration was making efforts to bring both the factions to a mutual agreement and discussions were still on. The trouble started when about 400 truckers, affiliated to Gandhidham Timber Association and Gandhidham Salt Manufacturing Association, were transporting salt and timber from Kandla Port, defying the strike, as they had to pay heavy demurrage at the port. |
