Curfew lifted in Dariapur

By Our Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD, AUG. 27. Curfew was completely lifted from the trouble-torn Dariapur locality in the heart of Ahmedabad from this evening following restoration of peace.

However, some untoward incidents were reported from Astodia and Bapunagar police station limits, including setting fire to some kiosks, but no retaliatory measures were taken by the police.

As the Dariapur locality, where one person was killed in police firing on Saturday, remained incident-free, the curfew was lifted from 3 p.m. today. However, most shops and business establishments remained closed for the day amidst a tense situation.

Furore in Assembly

The disturbances in Ahmedabad figured prominently in the State Assembly, which is holding its budget session in Gandhinagar, with members of the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress trading charges against each other for ``instigating'' trouble. At one stage, the Congress members walked out of the House in protest against the Government's refusal to allow a full-fledged debate on the issue.

The Minister of State for Home, Mr. Haren Pandya, admitted that though there were no major untoward incidents during the last couple of days, the situation in Ahmedabad could still not be described as ``normal''. He said the Government was baffled at the way the trouble started and spread quickly.

Mr Pandya told the House that the ``ghost pamphlets'' giving a false account of the alleged attack a few days back on some petty vendors in the Vatva industrial areas, played a major role in inciting the communal sentiments and disturbances in the city, which had not witnessed any communal trouble during the last four years of the BJP rule.

While the Congress members maintained that ``Hindu fundamentalists'' were behind the disturbances, the Government disagreed and claimed that some pro-Pakistani elements were behind the riots.

Mr. Pandya said the police had been asked to maintain strict vigil. An additional 18 companies of the state reserve police and four companies of rapid action force had been deployed in the troubled areas to assist the local police. So far, about 45 persons had been arrested in connection with some 20 offences registered for the disturbances.

The Chief Minister, in a brief statement, expressed sympathy with the family members of those killed in the disturbances and announced Rs 50,000 as immediate help from his relief fund to the victims' families.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : Rules for 'automatic suspension' in winter session
Next     : Security issue dominates discussion in RS