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Fear continues to reign over Ahmedabad

A month after the Godhra massacre and the murder of 785 people, Gujarat shows no sign of returning to normalcy.

Old Ahmedabad, Baroda, Prantij, Modasa and parts of Panchmahals district -- where tribal groups are not paying heed to the police or even the army -- continue to be under curfew.

In Ahmedabad alone almost 300 people have lost their lives since the violence began on February 28.

"After Godhra and the carnage that followed," a senior police officer in Ahmedabad told rediff.com, "the ghettoisation of Hindus and Muslims has intensified and that's not allowing normalcy to be restored though the police is active now and taking action against the rioters."

Though Chief Minister Narendra Modi made an impressive presentation to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani in New Delhi on Wednesday about the events in his state and the steps his government is taking to control them, there is not much to cheer on the ground.

Since February 27, when the Sabarmati Express was attacked at Godhra, 785 people have been killed in the state -- 125 of them in police firing -- and no one doubts that the toll will cross 800. Around 100,000 victims of the riots are living in 100 relief camps all over Gujarat. More than 9,000 people have been arrested, but most have been released on bail. More than 10,000 teargas shells and 6,000 rounds of live ammunition have been fired. And even over the last week, some 30 cities have witnessed curfew restrictions.

Over the same period, Haj pilgrims have also been returning from Saudi Arabia, but fear in the city is so pervasive that they are refusing to leave the airport through the front door. Special arrangements have had to be made to escort them out the back door and drop them home safely.

Dabghar Wad and Manek Chowk, two business districts of the city, are in fear of losing their businesses permanently, wearing a deserted look by 7pm.

Astodia, where a frightening street war took place on Tuesday, is now under curfew, which keeps the peace artificially. But Usha Gaikwad, a resident of the locality, keeps an iron rod by her bed. Her roof has been hit many a time by a hail of stones. "In our area," she said, "someone wrote: 'tumhari Holi lahu se rang denge (we will colour your Holi festival with blood).' How do you expect me to be without fear?"

"I am accustomed to riots," she said, "but previously both sides only used stones. But this time they are burning rickshaws carrying innocent people and throwing acid on poor people!"

Indu Mehta of Ambawadi locality said, "I wanted to shop for fresh vegetables in Manek Chowk, but how would I know if the rickshaw driver is Hindu or Muslim?"

Businessman Manish Thadani said, "I employ 20 drivers in my company, but none has reported to work since the last one month. I have started employing new drivers now. I can't close shop."

Irshad Pathan, a freelance journalist of Shah Alam, said, "People in my area have become prisoners in their own homes. Vo log apne logon ko baahar hi nahin jaane dete hain (The rioters don't allow our people to get out of this area). If someone goes out, they are stabbed. What can we do? How can we earn our living?"

"It's not that only Muslims are afraid," said Mayank Mehta, an advertising executive. "Even Hindus are tense. Both are equally insecure."

Ila Parikh, a sub-editor in a local daily, said, "To the people of Ahmedabad, Ellis Bridge is very special; it breaks the heart to see it bereft of any traffic at 6pm. Such symbolic signs are increasing our fear."

Girish Dani, an elected member of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and a former president of the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce, said, "Gujarat has lost out badly. A few days back [Wipro chairman] Aziz Premji said correctly that outsiders are not interested in investing in Gujarat anymore. Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra's chief ministers are all the time soliciting industrialists' investment while here in Gujarat nobody cares! Even by a conservative estimate Gujarat's total trade loss is Rs 5,824 crore, while the production loss is around Rs 1,800 crore."

While the administration struggles to bring the situation under control, the city lives on afvahon na padika, or a package of rumours. Pamphleteering is at its peak, with most of them unfit to reprint here. In Godhra, both sides have distributed such pamphlets to incite their communities. "The overdose of curfew has done some cosmetic surgery for Gujarat," remarked Maulin Munshi, a resident of Ahmedabad. "But the real situation is different."

"When the vast middle class of Gujarat has picked up the VHP line," remarked social scientist Achyut Yagnik, "how do you expect the return of normalcy in a few weeks?"

The Sabarmati in Flames: Complete Coverage

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