Road blockade by jewellers

Apr 4, 2012, 1 Rajkot

The ongoing jewellers' strike took a new turn on Tuesday, when around 200 jewellers sat on a protest at NH no. 8 at Kamrej. This resulted in heavy traffic jam for more than four hours. Police intervened and freed the highway. They also detained 47 people.

Since early morning, jewellers and jewellery workers gathered at Sainath Hotel in Navi Pardi in Kamrej taluka of Surat district. At 10 am, 200 people obstructed NH no. 8 with stones and tyres on both sides. Later protesting jewellers sat in the middle of highway and started chanting slogans against UPA.

The protest created problems for vehicles, as vehicles up to five kmlined up on the highway. Surat rural police forces were sent to disburse protesting jewellers. Initially police tried to negotiate with jewellers, but when situation did not come under control, cops resorted to light lath-charge. Later, cops removed stones and tyres and traffic movement was restored at noon. Police had to work for more than four hours to bring situation back to normal.

A case was registered against jewellers and 47 were arrested. They were produced at a local court in Kathor late in the evening. Kamrej police are investigating into the matter.

Lathicharge in Rajkot, Morbi

Protests by jewellers across Saurashtra intensified further as the strike against imposition of excise duty on non branded jewellery entered its 18th day on Tuesday. Jewellers also vowed to vigorously continue its protest in coming days, sources said. As part of the ongoing protest programme, 'Rasta Roko' was organised at various places including Rajkot, Junagadh, Keshod, Gondal and Porbandar. "To control the crowd police had to take into custody 60-odd protestors in Junagadh. Jewellers had assembled at Sabalpur Chokdi, the main entry for visitors coming from Rajkot in Junagadh city. They closed the traffic for some 20 - 25 minutes. After the police action protestors withdrew from the area," police said.

In Rajkot, 16 jewellers have begun their indefinite fast against the budget proposal. "On the second day of the fast, two of them have developed some illness. Doctors had been called for the check up where their condition had been declared out of danger," says Bhayabhai Saholiya of Rajkot Gold Dealers Association.

In a separate incident, jewellers had also organised a 'Rasta Roko' and 'Rail Roko' at Rajkot. “Rasta Roko lasted for 25 minutes at Greenland Chokdi on the National Highway 8A. Police have detained 10 in connection with the demonstration," a jeweller said.

Meanwhile, police had to resort to lathicharge on a railway crossing on state highway connecting Rajkot and Morbi. “Demonstrators were trying to stop Saurashtra Mail from passing the line," said a source.