Indian leader Modi’s home state under curfew after thousands from affluent caste riot for preferential treatment

Thousands of security officers were being deployed yesterday to the main city of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state after overnight rioting and arson by a caste demanding preferential treatment.

The Gujarat government imposed a curfew in parts of Ahmedabad and four other cities and towns across the western state and called in paramilitary reinforcements after members of the affluent Patidar caste went on the rampage.

Stone-throwing Patidars or Patels torched cars, buses and police stations over the arrest late Tuesday of their firebrand leader who had hours earlier led a massive protest in Ahmedabad, senior officers said.

At least a dozen officers were injured in the violence, prompting the first curfew in the state since 2002 when communal riots left at least 1,000 people dead, Gujarat Director General of Police P.C Thakur said.

“The curfew was imposed following large scale arson and rioting by members of the Patidar community in different cities of the state late on Tuesday,” Thakur said.