Quota protest: Hardik supporters detained in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad: Quota leader Hardik Patel was detained on Sunday along with his supporters when they were trying to organise fast in Ahmedabad's Nikol area, the police said.

The fast protest on Sunday was planned by the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) at a parking plot in the locality.

The symbolic fast was aimed at seeking allocation of a ground for a gathering planned by Hardik on August 25 for the demand for quota for Patidar youths in jobs and education.

Hardik had announced to sit on indefinite fast for the quota demand from August 25.

Hardik and eight leaders of the PAAS were detained on Sunday by the city crime branch from outside his house in Sola area, said Crime Branch DCP Deepan Bhadran.

The Crime Branch has registered an FIR against Hardik and eight others under sections 143 (Unlawful assembly) and 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) of the IPC.

"Hardik and eight others were detained from outside Hardik's house for unlawful assembly and other charges," Bhadran said.

Meanwhile, the police have detained at least 30 leaders and supporters of the PAAS from Nikol and Ramol areas of the city, said DCP (Zone V) Himkar Singh.

"They were detained when they were on their way to attend the protest gathering for which they had no police permission," he said.

Many police personnel were posted in Nikol area where the fast was supposed be held.