Army begins flag march in Vadodara city

Vadodara, May 3 (UNI) Army today staged flag march and conducted intensive patrolling in the riot-hit Vadodara city.

According to police sources, two columns of Army from the Makarpura base began mobile patrolling in two separate convoys across the six curfew-bound police station areas of Panigate, City, Raopura, Karelibaug, Navapura and Wadi to instill confidence in the minds of the panic-stricken people.

The Army contingents being escorted by the local police, also staged flag marches in some most sensitive pockets like Fatehpura, Bawamanpura and Yakutpura which witnessed fierce clashes between the two communities and the police during the last three days.

Earlier in the day, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the riot-affected Vadodara city, had disclosed that he had requested the centre for Army flag march in the city as a precautionary measure.

In the past three days of violence which was triggered by the demolition of a Dargah at the Champaner Gate on Monday, six persons were killed and over 50 others injured.

While an indefinite curfew continued in city and Navapura police station areas since Monday, Wadi, Panigate, Karelibaug and Raopura had a two-hour relaxation yesterday.

Following last night's violence in which one person was burnt alive by a mob at Panigate, the authorities had decided not to give any relaxation in curfew today.

UNI SS DKS RK0140