1 stabbed, 2 shops gutted in Vadodara during curfew relaxation

Vadodara, May 6 (UNI) One person was stabbed and a couple of shops were set ablaze in two seperate incidents of violence in the curfew-bound walled city areas of Vadodara today.

Police said a 30-year-old youth of Marathi mohalla under Navapura police station, was stabbed by another youth of the same locality this afternoon during the curfew relaxation period. The victim was immediately rushed to the SSG hospital where his condition was stated to be out of danger. Later, the accused was nabbed by the police and his weapon seized.

Earlier in the day, miscreants set ablaze two shops in the Srihari township on the most sensitive Ajwa road under Panigate police station, a couple of hours after curfew was relaxed in the areas this morning.

The Army and Rapid Action Force (RAF) continued to stage flag marches in the sensitive areas. However, the Army deployment is now limited to four curfew-bound areas of Panigate, City, Wadi and Navapura. Yesterday, the authorities had withdrawn Army from Raopura and Karelibaug areas as no incident of violence were reported from there.

Barring the two incidents, peace prevailed across the six police station areas of Panigate, Raopura, Karelibaug, City, Wadi and Navapura where curfew was relaxed for four hours today in phases.

Following an improvement in law and order situation, the authorities have announced a seven-hour relaxation in curfew tomorrow from 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs in all the six curfew-bound areas.

On May 1, curfew was clamped in these areas after clashes between two communities and police broke out following demolition of a century-old dargah by the civic authorities as it was enchroaching the road near the historic Champaner Gate.

So far six people have lost their lives and over 60 others were injured either in clashes or police firing.

UNI SS KU VD RS2210