Communal clash in Gujarat kills one

Ahmedabad: An uneasy calm prevailed on Friday in Gondal city in Gujarat after a communal clash overnight left one person dead and another injured, officials said.

Police sources said half a dozen persons came menacingly in the city's Chordi Darwaza area in a black SUV without any registration number and opened indiscriminate fire at Imran Kataria, a butcher.

He sustained bullet wounds in the throat and leg and was shifted to a government hospital in Gondal, 40 km from Rajkot. The incident took place on Thursday night.

Police said this provoked the other community to retaliate. Soon, a mob of over 100 people came together in a jeep and motorcycles armed with weapons.

The irate mob attacked a vegetable shop owner, identified as Sanjay Bhadani from the Patel community, who was passing by, in the Old Market Yard of the city. He died on the spot.

Acting swiftly, the police chased the black SUV, intercepted it and arrested its five occupants. They were identified as Akshar alias Giri Suryakantbhai Dudhrejia, Rishi Sureshbhai Radadia, Mohit alias Mundo Rameshbhai Sakhiya, Vishal Atmaram Pathkar and Siddhraj Ajaybhai Jadav. A revolver and other weapons were seized, a police official said.

Police have now launched a manhunt for two persons allegedly involved in killing Bhadani, while security has been tightened.