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30 persons burnt alive in Ahmedabad

At least 30 persons, including children, were feared killed on Thursday, February 28, when their dwellings were set on fire by a mob in Ahmedabad.

Police sources said 13 bodies had been recovered so far and more were trapped in the buildings in a housing society in Meghaninagar locality.

Among those killed was a former Congress member of Parliament, Ehsan Jaffri, and 19 members of his family, the sources said.

In other incidents throughout the state, at least 20 persons were killed, including two in police firing, and property worth lakhs of rupees was destroyed as mobs ransacked and set ablaze shops, buildings and buses, prompting the Gujarat government to clamp indefinite curfew in 26 places.

As the reaction to Wednesday's attack on the Sabarmati Express at Godhra spread during the bandh called by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the state government said those responsible would be booked under the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi said that at least 20 persons were killed in separate incidents across the state and two in police firing in Nadiad and Godhra during the daylong general strike.

Condemning the attack on the train, he said, "Five crore people have become aggressive and there was a reaction today." Reports of violence came in from Palanpur, Himmatnagar, Lunawada, Deesa, Bhildi, Patan, Khera, Vishnagar and Godhra. In Ahmedabad too there were reports of mobs attacking a shrine and some restaurants.

He said 700 people had been arrested throughout the state, including 80 in Godhra in connection with the attack on the train.

Modi said the state government had ordered a judicial inquiry into the attack, which would be headed by a retired judge of the Gujarat high court. The army has been asked to stand by and the Rapid Action Force and the Central Industrial Security Force have been deployed in Ahmedabad and other places.

PTI

The Sabarmati in Flames: Complete Coverage

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