Date:03/10/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/10/03/stories/2002100304970100.htm

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Violence in Gujarat

By Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD Oct. 2. Several parts of Gujarat witnessed violence on the Gandhi Jayanti Day today forcing police to open fire in Bhavnagar and burst teargas shells in Vadodara and Piplod town of Anand district.

At least one person was injured in firing in the Prabhudas colony of Bhavnagar in the Saurashtra region, home constituency of the BJP State president, Rajendrasinh Rana, after disturbances broke out over a non-issue. Tension spread to the adjoining `chawls' and members of both the communities indulged in stone-throwing. Seven persons were injured, which forced police to burst teargas shells. They later fired more than 15 rounds to disperse the clashing mobs.

The situation in the evening, police said, was tense but under control. The disturbances had also spread to adjoining localities from where reports of stone-throwing had been received.

In Vadodara, at least two persons were injured in the Navapura locality after disturbances broke out following heated exchange over non-payment of bills in a roadside fast food joint on Tuesday. About a dozen teargas shells were burst by police to disperse clashing mobs in Piplod after some youth beat up the members of the rival community with hockey sticks. The incident was a sequel to an old enmity but it assumed the form of communal clash. While six persons were injured, police arrested 15 persons.