One month later, still no calm

Even one month after the Godhra carnage, things have not returned to normal in the city. Every day, violence breaks out in new areas. While there was trouble in Khadia and Ramol areas on Tuesday, two incidents of stabbing were reported from Ranip and Shaherkotda areas on Wednesday evening.

Three persons were injured in incidents of stone-pelting reported from Nagoriwad area of Shahpur and Ramlal Nu Khada of Madhavpura area on Wednesday morning. Around 8 am in Nagoriwad area, two mobs started stone-pelting and also set ablaze two houses in the area. Following this, Shahpur police lobbed tear-gas shells and fired six rounds to disperse the mob. As tension spread to adjoining areas, senior police officers including Additional Commissioner of Police (Sector-I) Shivanand Jha and Joint Commissioner (Sector-II) M K Tandon rushed to their respective areas to prevent untoward incidents.

Few hours later, tension mounted in Ramlal Nu Khada in Madhavpura area when one mob pelted stones on houses belonging to another group. A large contingent of police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) which rushed there had to resort to firing to control the situation. Meanwhile, police started combing operations for weapons and petrol bombs, but women in the area tried to obstruct the police. Police arrested at least 20 persons in this connection. Meanwhile, two of the injured were discharged after primary treatment. Till 8 pm situation remained peaceful in the city until a stabbing was reported from Bakra Mandi in Ranip area. A man passing through a sensitive area was attacked by a mob armed with sharp weapons. The victim was rushed to Civil Hospital where his condition was stated to be critical.

Following this, another stabbing was reported from Shaherkotda area when a man riding a bicycle was intercepted and assaulted by a sword-weilding group. Police admitted him to V S Hospital where he is undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, in an appeal to Amdavadis, Police Commissioner P C Pande said residents should stop spreading rumours which leads to violence. ‘‘Some organisations have been trying to create tension between communities. If anyone finds pamphlets printed with inflammatory material, people are requested to contact the police control room. Their identities will be kept a secret,’’ said Pande in an official release on Wednesday.

Councillors stay away
CHIEF Minister Narendra Modi claimed that he had restored normalcy within 72 hours of the riots breaking out in the city. But a month later, normalcy has not even returned to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, with many councillors not even attending office. Attendance at the main AMC building has been very low since February 28, one reason being that the building and its surrounding areas have been under curfew for most of the time since violence broke out in the city. BJP councillors, however, state that the municipal commissioner should take disciplinary action against those who do not report for duty and that the mayor himself should set an example by attending office regularly. Said Leader of Opposition Dharmendra Shah, ‘‘The commissioner should issue an order that action will be taken against those employees not attending office,’’ he said. On its part, the ruling Congress says that emergency services are being attended to even at the risk of personal safety. Senior BJP councillor Amit Shah, however, says that though officials claim that emergency services are being provided, residents of Guptanagar slum have not been getting drinking water for the past four days.

Republished from The Indian Express