Cause–Effect reasoning: Identify the relationship between Statement I and Statement II. S1: Police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse an unruly mob gathered at the civic headquarters. S2: The civic administration recently hiked the residential property tax by about 30%. Choose the correct cause–effect option.

Given data

• S1: Police used lathi-charge to disperse an unruly mob at the civic HQ.
• S2: Civic administration hiked residential property tax by ~30%.

Concept / Approach
Public unrest and demonstrations often follow sudden, steep tax hikes. Police action to control an unruly crowd is typically a response to such a trigger.

Step-by-step reasoning
Tax hike (policy shock) ⇒ citizen anger/protest near civic HQ. Escalation of protest ⇒ police lathi-charge to restore order.

Option check
A: Effect (police action) causing prior tax hike is illogical. B: Tax hike (S2) plausibly triggers protest ⇒ police action (S1). ✔ C/D/E: No evidence of unrelated or common hidden causes beyond the stated linkage.

Final Answer
Statement II is the cause and Statement I is its effect.