Gujarat violence: Seven people killed

The Army has been called in the violence-hit city to restore law and order in the state.

According to reports, five people were killed last night in Ahmedabad, out of which two were allegedly killed in police firing after protesters clashed with cops.

Two people were killed in Palanpur in north Gujarat on Wednesday, both allegedly in police firing.

Several parts of Ahmedabad are witnessing curfew.

Schools and colleges were closed on Wednesday and will remain closed on Thursday.

The Army held flag marches in different parts of the city.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed for peace in Gujarat.

"Violence does not benefit anybody," the Prime Minister said in an appeal on television.

There have been fresh clashes in parts of Ahmedabad, which is under curfew after clashes and cases of arson and stone-throwing late Tuesday night.

Speaking to NDTV, Hardik Patel said his movement is non-violent and would intensify. "If anything goes wrong, it will be the government's fault," he said.

Hardik Patel had called for a bandh in Gujarat in a late night message on WhatsApp, in which he said, "I make an appeal to maintain peace and keep calm."

Internet services on mobile phones have been suspended in some parts of Gujarat. There is curfew in some parts of Surat and in Mehsana in north Gujarat too. An incident of stone throwing was reported in Surat on Wednesday morning.

State-run buses have been burnt and government offices have been ransacked in these cities. Incidents of arson were also reported from Rajkot, about 200 kilometres from Ahmedabad.

The Centre has despatched about 5,000 paramilitary personnel to Gujarat while Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the state's  Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Wednesday morning on the situation.