The Hindu : Stabbing spree in Ahmedabad

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 16, 2002

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National

Stabbing spree in Ahmedabad
By Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD, MARCH 15. Two persons were killed and at least seven injured in a stabbing spree in Ahmedabad. Four persons were also injured in police firing in the city, forcing the authorities to bring some parts of the walled city areas back under curfew.

Curfew was also clamped on some parts of Baroda, Broach, Balasinor and Petlad towns in central Gujarat. Police fired about 15 rounds in Baroda to disperse clashing mobs. A municipal transport bus was set afire while reports of stone- throwing and other minor clashes were also received from various other towns.

An uneasy calm prevailed in Godhra, the scene of the train carnage, which experienced a curfew-like situation with very few shops and other business establishments opening for the day. Police maintained a strict vigil. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the town.

As a precautionary measure, the Army staged flag marches in Ahmedabad, Baroda, Godhra and several other riot-hit cities and towns in view of the ``shila puja'' in Ayodhya coinciding with the Friday prayers. In several sensitive areas of Ahmedabad, Godhra and other towns, the Muslims, at the request of the State Government authorities, advanced the time of Friday prayers to avoid a clash with the ``shila'' processions.

Many people responded to the VHP's programme of holding ``Ram dhun'' (chanting) in their homes, on rooftops and in temples while in several places in Ahmedabad, Baroda and some other cities people, particularly women, came out on the streets with replicas of ``shilas''. One such procession was stoned in Baroda, forcing the police to fire about 15 rounds to disperse the mobs and later impose an indefinite curfew on areas under the Raopura police station.

Ahmedabad, Shahpur, Kalupur and Karanj police station areas in the heart of the city were placed under indefinite curfew. At least seven incidents of stabbing were reported in the afternoon forcing the police to open fire in Shahpur locality in which at least four persons were injured. An official spokesman confirmed the death in hospital of one person injured in stabbing while the hospital sources said at least two were killed in the city.

Strong police bandobust was maintained in all the sensitive and riot-hit cities and towns and the Army was asked to stand by and hold flag marches.

Arrangement for exams

The State Education Minister, Anandiben Patel, made a statement in the Assembly announcing alternate arrangements for the secondary and higher secondary school board examinations scheduled to begin from Monday. She said those students who did not want to appear in the examinations beginning from Monday would be given the option to appear in the second set of examinations to be held from May 6.

The Leader of the Opposition, Naresh Raval, was suspended for three days for making ``uncharitable remarks' against the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, in connection with the recent riots. The motion to suspend Mr. Raval was carried by a voice vote after the Opposition walked out in protest.

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