The Hindu : Army being withdrawn for border duty

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 22, 2002

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Other States - Gujarat

Army being withdrawn for border duty

By Manas Dasgupta

GANDHINAGAR MAY 21. After doing duty for about 80 days, the Army is being gradually withdrawn from Ahmedabad and other riot-hit areas of Gujarat to return to the borders with Pakistan in view of the heightened tension there.

Following the decision announced in Delhi that the Army units posted in Gujarat were being recalled, an official spokesman of the State Government said the process of withdrawal had started and was expected to be completed in a day or two.

K.P.S. Gill, security adviser to the Chief Minister, does not feel that the withdrawal of the Army would have any impact in the strife-torn State where peace is gradually returning.

In an informal chat with mediapersons, Mr. Gill said the Army was kept as a stand-by and was not involved in the peace process. So its withdrawal would not create any void.

The Ahmedabad city Police Commissioner, K. R. Kaushik, thanked the Army for its "timely assistance'' to bring the situation under control. It would not be difficult for police to handle the situation now that people of both the communities themselves were co-operating.

Asked about the "magic wand'' that helped stop violence within days of his taking over as security adviser, Mr. Gill said there was no magic. Peace had returned because the people co-operated. More than the police lathis, it was the opening of a dialogue with the leaders of the two communities that helped normalise the situation. The posting of some police officers belonging to the minority community in some sensitive areas also helped. He stressed the need for "modernisation'' of the State police.

With no untoward incidents reported from any part of the State in the last 10 days or so, the situation is fast returning to normality. The arrival of additional companies of the Central Reserve Police Force and other paramilitary forces will also help fill the void that may be caused by the Army's withdrawal.

In many places, the minorities in the relief camps have started returning to their homes and in many rural areas, Hindus themselves have escorted their Muslim brethren back from the relief camps to reinstall them at their homes. In villages at Kheda and Anand districts in central Gujarat, almost all the Muslims have returned to their homes with the help of their Hindu friends.

At Viramgam town in Ahmedabad district, at the behest of the local judicial officials, Muslims stood guarantee for the Hindus accused and vice-versa in the riot cases setting an example of communal harmony. Cheques for compensation in the riot losses were handed over to the victims by the representatives of the other community to remove any sense of bitterness against each other.

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Army being withdrawn for border duty