Curfew continues in MP city: Rahul demands CM's resignation

Bhopal, Jul 5 (UNI) Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi today demanded Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's resignation in view of the communal incidents in the state, even as curfew continued in the state's commercial capital Indore.

A delegation led by the Amethi MP, who was on a day-long visit here, met Governor Balram Jakhar at Raj Bhavan this evening and urged him to act in accordance with the Constitution and dispatch a report to the Centre concerning the disturbances.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued here, Mr Chouhan said, ''Indore district's officers have been given firm directives to take impartial and stringent steps to maintain law and order besides strictly controlling elements spreading discord.'' State Home Minister Himmat Kothari told mediapersons at Ratlam that Indore Police had obtained clues which made it clear that workers of the banned Students' Islamic Movement of India played a key role in the communal violence as a tit-for-tat response to the state regime's crackdown on SIMI.

Curfew was relaxed for a total three hours today in only 11 police station limits of Indore where it was clamped in the wake of communal violence during Thursday's Bharat Bandh called by the Vishva Hindu Parishad over the Amarnath land allotment issue.

The relaxation, from 1600 hrs to 1800 hrs in 11 police station limits, was later extended by an hour. Curfew was not relaxed in 16 other police station areas.

Two days of violence claimed six lives and injured 32 at Indore while more than 200 were taken into custody. ''No violence was reported during the relaxation,'' said Inspector-General Anil Kumar.

Four crude bombs were found in a bag at Kesar Pahadi 25 km from Indore.

The government announced Rs 1 lakh each as ex gratia to the deceased's families, Rs 50,000 to each of the severely injured and Rs 10,000 to others hurt.

UNI Team-AC Mir GC2234