The Hindu : National : Uneasy calm in Veraval

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Wednesday, Jul 28, 2004

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Uneasy calm in Veraval

By Our Special Correspondent

A street in Gujarat's Veraval town which witnessed communal violence for the second day on Tuesday. Mobs defied curfew and clashed, burning shops and vehicles. — AP

AHMEDABAD, JULY 27. An uneasy calm prevailed in riot-hit Veraval town in Junagadh district of Saurashtra region of Gujarat today even as the toll in yesterday's violence rose to three.

A youth admitted in the Rajkot hospital with stab injuries died this afternoon. Two persons were killed yesterday in the violence that was allegedly sparked by the teasing of schoolgirls of one community by members of the rival ones.

With no fresh incidents of violence reported since last night, the curfew clamped at 2.30 p.m. yesterday was relaxed in two phases today for four hours only for women and children to purchase essentials.

People from both communities took out a peace march to maintain harmony in the port town located about five km from Somnath.

Meanwhile, a Congress committee sent by the Pradesh Congress president, Bhairondan Gadhavi, for a spot study, has blamed the Government for the situation.

The committee, according to the GPCC spokesman, Arvind Sanghavi, found the police force in the town insufficient and criticised the alleged delay in sending in reinforcements.

The committee has criticised the Sangh Parivar and alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders had "instigated'' the people resulting in attack on three religious places.

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