Monday, Apr 22, 2002
Monday, Apr 22, 2002 |
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By Manas Dasgupta
After a brief lull in the last few days, violence erupted in several parts of the State today, forcing the police to impose indefinite curfew in Gomtipur, Bapunagar and Rakhial police station areas in Ahmedabad, Kadi town in Mehsana district and Kapadwanj and Mehmadabad towns in Kaira district in central Gujarat. Even as Mr. Fernandes was meeting officials and discussing with the people the prevailing law and order situation to assess the possibility of withdrawing the army, several parts of Ahmedabad witnessed group clashes, arson and stabbing which claimed nine lives. A police constable on duty was among those killed in Gomtipur locality where seven people were killed in police firing. One person succumbed to injuries sustained in a bomb blast following pitched battle between two groups. The condition of three others injured in police firing was stated to be serious. The police could not give details of the number of rounds fired or the people injured in stone throwing and minor stabbing incidents. Innumerable rounds had been fired in Gomtipur, a police spokesman said, as people dispersed from one area regrouped and resumed pitched battle in the neighbourhood. Initial reports said at least 30 shops and slums had been set afire by the violent mobs. Indefinite curfew had to be clamped in Kapadwanj and Mehmadabad where one person each was killed in police firing following outbreak of fresh violence late last night. At least 18 shops in Kapadwanj and nearly a dozen establishments in Mehmadabad were set on fire. In Kadi, violence broke out following stoning of a temple during the Ram Navmi celebrations, forcing the police to open fire in which at least eight people were injured this afternoon. The disturbances in Gomtipur had started late last night when groups of people, violating the night curfew in force, came out on the streets and indulged in stoning throwing. The situation, however, was quickly brought under control with additional police reinforcements deployed in the area but it took an ugly turn this afternoon over bursting of crackers. The police could not say who burst the crackers but groups of people took to the streets with rumours about members of rival communities preparing for "attack'' doing the rounds. A police constable, Amar Suresh Rao, on duty near Usha talkies point, was stabbed with a sharp weapon and he died on the spot. As violence continued unabated with rival groups hurling petrol and crude bombs, in which one person was killed, the police repeatedly opened fire killing seven people. The death toll could rise with three people reported to be in critical condition and the disturbances continuing, police said. The disturbances in Gomtipur had its impact on the neighbouring Bapunagar and Rakhial localities but the police imposed an indefinite curfew before the situation could get out of control. Barring some stray incidents of stoning, no violence was reported from these localities.
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