The Hindu : Violence claims 6 lives in Gujarat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 01, 2002

Front Page

Front Page

Violence claims 6 lives in Gujarat

By Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD, MARCH 31 . At least six persons were killed, including three in Ahmedabad, in stabbing and police firing, and more than 20 injured as violence re-erupted in some parts of riot-torn Gujarat after a few days of relative calm.

Even as the authorities heaved a sigh of relief after the "Holi'' festivities passed off peacefully on Friday, rival communities were back on the streets, engaging in pitched battles in Ahmedabad, Cambay, Petlad, Anand, Nadiad, Kadi and several other towns, from Saturday night shattering the fragile peace.

It was virtually a free-for-all in the labour-dominated Gomtipur locality late last night when 20,000 people belonging to two communities took to the streets and hurled stones, petrol bombs and acid bulbs at each other. At least one person was stabbed to death. The mobs set fire to dozens of shops and houses and gheraoed the local fire station to prevent the fire tenders from rushing to the spot. It was only after the Army patrolling unit reached the spot that the mob dispersed and the fire tenders could leave the station.

At least two persons were killed when police fired to contain the violence that continued throughout the night and had its impact in the neighbouring areas like Rakhial, Bapunagar, Shah Alam, Khokhra, Odhav and other localities where thousands of people came out on the streets and clashed.

An indefinite curfew was clamped in Gomtipur police station limits from midnight but trouble spread to Bapunagar, Behrampura and some other localities today. About a dozen shops were set ablaze in Bapunagar while in Behrampura, 30 shops were gutted.

At least two persons were killed in police firing in Cambay while another was killed in Petlad, also in police firing — both in Kaira district of central Gujarat — following incidents of stone-throwing, arson and group clashes.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

Pak. has done enough to curb terrorism: Musharraf

Let us look to the future, says Musharraf

Export restrictions lifted

Violence claims 6 lives in Gujarat

Israeli army asked to `neutralise' Arafat

Report on constitution

Mosque handed over

Temple attack: toll up to 8