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Ahmedabad calm; rest of Gujarat still simmers

After three days of continuous violence in Ahmedabad, there was a substantial improvement in the situation on Saturday as the army staged flag marches and the police adopted a tough posture.

But violence spread elsewhere, as 35 people were burnt alive in Mehsana adding to the death toll that state government officials put at 300.

Unofficial estimates, however, have put the death figure at around 400.

The official figures went up with the recovery of more bodies from the debris of burnt houses and fresh killings on Saturday.

In Vadodra, a family of seven was burnt alive when a mob set fire to a bakery in Wadi police station area. Twelve others were injured when police opened fire to quell the mob near the bakery.

Two persons were killed, when police fired on a mob that was setting ablaze shops in Kumarwad area of Bhavnangar City.

One person was stabbed to death and a police constable, a new recruit, was killed in Vijalpur police station area.

Incidents of violence were also reported from Surat and Panchmal districts.

The Border Security Force and the army brought the situation in Rakhial, Bapunagar, Khadia, Maninagar, Kankaria and Naroda quickly under control by conducting flag marches.

Gujarat government also decided to set up peace panels involving leaders from two communities to restore 'traditional bond', even as senior police officials cautioned citizens against rumour mongering.

Meanwhile, the toll in police firing in the violence-hit parts of Gujarat has gone up to 19 since Friday.

One person was killed in Palanpur in North Gujarat after police fired at a mob on Saturday afternoon.

Earlier on Sunday, two persons were killed in Bhavnagar, about 200 km from here, when police resorted to firing to quell a rampaging mob.

At least 16 persons, alleged to be arsonists, were killed in police firing across the state on Friday.

The Sabarmati in Flames: Complete Coverage

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