The Hindu : Violence spreads to Saurashtra

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 26, 2002

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Violence spreads to Saurashtra

By Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD April 25. Four persons were killed in violence in different parts of trouble-torn Gujarat today. An indefinite curfew was clamped on Bhavnagar, in the Saurashtra region, where six persons were injured in police firing. One person was stabbed to death in Mansa town, in Gandhinagar district, late on Wednesday. Two more persons, who were injured in police firing and stabbing incidents during renewed violence in Gomtipur locality on Sunday, died in hospital. An elderly woman collapsed out of shock and later died after an empty teargas shell fell next to her in the Dariakhan Ghummat relief camp on Tuesday.

For the first time in two months, the Saurashtra region, which was relatively insulated from violence, witnessed disturbances since Wednesday night. The violence was reportedly sparked off by a minor accident involving a bicycle and an autorickshaw. Following the accident, the cyclist was attacked with sharp weapons seriously injuring him. Soon people from both communities gathered and attacked each other with bombs and stones. Some houses and shops were set afire. The miscreants also attacked two temples and damaged the idols. This led to a pitched battle between the rival groups, forcing the police to open fire in which six persons were injured. Indefinite curfew was imposed and the situation was brought under control after the Army staged a flag march.

The AICC secretary, Vayalar Ravi, and the senior leader, Salman Khurshid, participated in a `Modi hatao dharna' organised by the Congress in front of the Sabarmati Ashram here today. Talking to presspersons, Mr. Khurshid said the Gujarat events were among the "worst attacks on humanity".

The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry has decided to take out a peace march on a 3-km stretch in one of the worst-affected areas, Relief Road, on Sunday. It is expected that the rally, to be led by the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, would be attended by Union Ministers, including those from the State.

A delegation of State BJP MPs is to meet the President, K.R. Narayanan, in New Delhi tomorrow to apprise him of the situation, a spokesman said.

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