AHMEDABAD: Three persons were killed and 20 injured in
renewed violence in Ahmedabad overnight as the toll in the clashes after the
Prime Minister’s visit to the state on Thursday went up to four.
This indicates that Vajpayee’s fervent appeal for restoration of peace has had
little impact on communal passions which erupted over a month ago with the
attack on the Sabarmati Express in Godhra on February 27.
Two persons were killed and several injured when the police opened fire to
quell clashing groups in the Vatva police station area. One person was also
killed outside the Sabarmati police station when the police fired to disperse a
mob which had gathered there demanding the return of some arrested persons.
Lunawada town of Panchmahals district, where curfew was re-imposed on Friday,
is also reported to be tense. Same 9is the case with Himmatnagar town of the
Sabarkantha district where some stray clashes were reported on Friday.
Meanwhile in New Delhi, the National Commission for Minorities has asked the
Gujarat government to balance the composition of the police force.
‘‘The police team should comprise of people from different minority
communities. In case, officers from minority communities are not available, the
state can borrow them from other states on deputation,’’ Justice Mohammad
Shamim, chairperson of the commission, said on Saturday at the conclusion of a
three-hour meeting with top state government officials.
The five-member Gujarat officials, led by state chief secretary G Subba Rao,
was summoned by the commission. Despite repeated pleas by newsmen, Rao refused
to comment on the prevailing situation. On the other hand, Justice Shamim and
other NCM members said they are ‘‘not happy with whatever has been done by the
state’’.
Justice Shamim said the state government should take confidence-building
measures like setting up peace committees. The commission has also requested
the state government to increase the compensation to Rs 1 lakh from the current
Rs 50,000. This is in addition to compensation from the PM’s Relief Fund.
Among other recommendations are: Destroyed religious places should be
re-constructed, persons living in camps be shifted to safer places and land be
allotted for this purpose.