The Hindu : National : Two killed, curfew clamped in Gujarat town

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 27, 2004

National

National

Two killed, curfew clamped in Gujarat town

By Our Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD, JULY 26 . Two persons have been killed in communal clash and curfew has been clamped in the port town of Veraval in Junagadh district of the Saurashtra region in Gujarat this afternoon. Eight persons were injured and the condition of at least four is said to be critical.

The clash was allegedly sparked by eve-teasing of schoolgirls belonging to one community. Some people caught the eve-teasers and while they were being taken to the police station, some members of their community started pelting stones.

Soon members of another community began retaliating and the disturbances spread all over the town, situated about 5 km from Somnath.

One person was stabbed to death and a mob set afire at least 40 shops and some houses and vehicles. Two religious places were attacked.

Police firing

Additional police force was rushed from the district headquarters of Junagadh. The police burst about 20 teargas shells and resorted to firing. At least 40 rounds were fired by evening, killing one person.

The curfew at 2.30 p.m. will be in force till 8 a.m. tomorrow. The police said the situation was "tense but under control." Unconfirmed reports said there were group clashes in various parts of the town even during curfew.

Additional State reserve police force has been deployed. Unconfirmed reports said "shoot-at-sight" orders had been issued to tackle any breakout of violence in the night.

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