India: Violence erupts following arrest of Patidar caste leader

At least six people died after riots erupted in Ahmedabad, Gujarat State on Wednesday, following the arrest of Hardik Patel, a 22-year-old who had been at the forefront of huge caste protests that have been sweeping India. Violence broke out on Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday, when 5,000 soldiers were deployed to the region to quell the demonstrations. Protesters started fires and threw stones at the soldiers and police, as the authorities struggled to contain the protests. Patel had been demanding that the Patels – or the Patidar caste – be given better access to education and jobs through a quota system. The activist has attained millions of supporters over the last two months. With up to half a million people taking part in demonstrations in Ahmedabad. The Indian caste - system sets aside a proportion of government jobs and university places for less privileged castes, such as Dalits, also known as "untouchables", under measures intended to avoid discrimination. A system which the Patidars or Patels, who compromise around 20 percent of the population of Gujarat state, say now discriminates against them.