Search the Internet          Tips

After peaceful Holi, curfew being relaxed in Gujarat

However, sporadic violence claimed two lives and left nearly a dozen injured in the past 48 hours, raising the official death toll from communal violence since the Godhra train arson incident on February 27 to 762.

The unofficial death toll has already crossed the 800 mark.

On Saturday, curfew was relaxed for eight hours beginning 1000 hrs in Kalupur, Dariapur, Karanj, Vejalpur, Shahpur and Gaekwad Haveli police station areas in the walled city while night curfew will remain in force in Danilimbda.

In Baroda, curfew was being relaxed in the day time in Karelibagh, Raopura, Nawapura, Pani Gate and Wadi areas.

In Borsad, there is a 12-hour relaxation in curfew from 0700 hours.

In Anand, the indefinite curfew remained in force in the over-bridge area but was relaxed for 13 hours from 0600 hours in the town and for eight hours in Khambhat from 0900 hours.

On Friday, almost the entire Gujarat, including the curfew-shackled Ahmedabad and Baroda, largely remained peaceful.

Ahmedabad and Baroda, where a stringent curfew was in force in 16 and six police station areas respectively, were totally peaceful on Friday.

Stray incidents of stone-throwing and arson were also reported from Baroda's city and Sinor areas, Nadiad (Kheda district) and at Adalaj (Gandhinagar).

Violence, arson and stone-throwing forced the authorities to clamp curfew at Kadi (Mehsana) on Friday night as police had to lob tear-gas shells to quell marauding mobs.

In village Adas, eight km from Anand, police on Friday lobbed nine teargas shells and then fired nearly 30 rounds on a violent mob trying to set a shop on fire. A dozen people, including ten policemen, were injured in the incident and a curfew was clamped in the area in the evening.

A man, injured in an acid attack by a mob on Thursday at Borsad town in Anand district, died on Friday in the hospital. A burnt body bearing stab wounds was also found in Bhatil village of Petlad taluka in Anand district.

Meanwhile, members of the Editors' Guild of India will visit Ahmedabad on Saturday to assess riot-related matters, including the role of the media.

The Citizens' Tribunal has also announced a probe into the matter while Amnesty International has demanded an 'unbiased' probe into the entire affair.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is likely to visit the city on April four.

UNI

The Sabarmati in Flames: Complete Coverage

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report