Vadodara: Fresh violence during curfew relaxation

Vadodara, May 2: Tension gripped the Nyaya Mandir area as mob attacked a small place of worship just behind the district and sessions court here today when curfew was relaxed in Raopura and Panigate police station areas between 1230 hrs and 1430 hrs.

Even as the mob tried to break open the grilled door and uproot the structure, the police personel deployed there dispersed the crowd after a brief confrontation.

Nyaya Mandir, in the central business district, is where most of the Government offices, including the collectorate and court are located.

A violent mob armed with swords and other sharp-edged weapons, entered the court premises yesterday afternoon to give vent to their anger against the court refusing stay on the demolition of a 100-year-old dargah.

Another case of violence was also reported from Hathikhana in a non-curfew area and near Fatehpura Chowki under the curfew-bound City police station area in the morning, when funeral procession of two victims in yesterday's police firing turned violent.

In between, another person injured in yesterday's police firing succumbed to the injuries at the hospital early today, taking the toll to five deaths, including three in police firing and two by stabbing. As many as 50 others sustained injuries.

With an uneasy calm descending in the city, local authorities today decided to relax curfew in a phased manner. It was relaxed next under Wadi and Karelibaug police station areas between 1500 hrs and 1700 hrs. But, no decision has been taken to relax curfew under City and Navapura police stations.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Minister of State for Home Amit Shah, before leaving for Gandhinagar last night, had told the legal fraternity that stringent action would be taken against those who had entered the court premises when the court was in session.

Later he told mediapersons that he had seen the footage of the violent mob and the miscreants could be identified.

Mr Shah also told the local Muslim leaders to maintain peace and assured that he would come to the city again on May five to find out some solution to relocation of the other dargah, encroaching the road but not yet removed.

Union Minister of State for Home Shriprakash Jaiswal, who arrived in the city late last night for some other work, stayed back to take stock of the situation.

He told reporters, before leaving for the capital, that he would submit the report to the Union Government later in the day.

UNI

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