Saturday, March 2, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Army stages flag march, riot toll 200
Shoot-at-sight order throughout Gujarat, Fernandes visits troubled areas

Ahmedabad, March 1 With the communal violence continuing unabated, the Gujarat Government issued the shoot-at-sight order throughout the state and deployed the Army in the worst-hit Ahmedabad and some other towns as the death toll in the past two days rose to over 200.

Rioters throw stones as a police vehicle passes by. — Reuters photo More photos

Defence Minister arrives in violence-hit Ahmedabad (28k, 56k)
Muslim residents in Ayodhya are fleeing town fearing attacks by VHP activists as authorities seal the border to prevent any untoward incident. (28k, 56k)

Arson, clashes mark VHP bandh; 2 killed in Aligarh
New Delhi, March 1
Two persons were killed even as police firing, arson, clashes and demolition of religious structures marked the dawn-to-dusk countrywide VHP-sponsored bandh today in protest against the Godhra carnage. The bandh evoked a mixed response, partially affecting normal life in some states.

• 30 companies rushed to Ayodhya

Mob frenzy unabated
Ahmedabad, March 1
An eerie silence permeates through Dariapur area of the city where flames still rage in shops gutted by angry mobs hours back. Empty roads are littered with charred remains of cars, autos, rickshaws and rehris. The police is hardly visible on roads as one passes through the curfew-bound old city area.

PM, Sonia issue joint appeal
VHP sets conditions
New Delhi, March 1
In a positive development, leaders of all political parties, including Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi, tonight issued a joint appeal asking the people of Gujarat to maintain peace and communal harmony and isolate perpetrators of violence.

In video: Members of Opposition lead by Congress President Sonia Gandhi meet President K. R. Narayanan to discuss Gujarat situation. (28k, 56k)

Opposition asks Narayanan to intervene
New Delhi, March 1
President K.R. Narayanan today assured agitated Opposition members of Parliament that he would take up with the Prime Minister their demand for the immediate deployment of the Army in the riot-affected areas of Gujarat.

Shiv Sena goes on rampage in Kaithal

Kaithal, March 1 Tension gripped Kaithal after three places of worship were attacked, damaged and torched today. Apart from a few persons sustaining injuries, there were no fatalities in the incident which rocked the town.

The scene after Shiv Sena activists went on the rampage in Kaithal on Friday. — Tribune photo Karam Singh

Don’t get provoked, Imam tells Muslims
Threatens dharna at PM’s house
New Delhi, March 1
The Shahi Imam of the historic Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, today condemned the killing of 57 ‘kar sevaks’ at Godhra in Gujarat and appealed to the Centre and Gujarat Government to take adequate steps to control the violence.

The Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, addresses Muslims after Friday prayers in the Capital. (28k, 56k)

• Puri’s seer demands ban on VHP

• NHRC notice to Gujarat

Amarinder confers with Sonia Nod to Captain’s team likely tomorrow New Delhi, March 1 The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, held preliminary discussions with Congress President Sonia Gandhi about the general situation in the state but the nitty-gritty pertaining to the formation of the ministry will be worked out on Sunday. Capt. Amarinder Singh meets with Sonia Gandhi at her residence in the Capital on Friday. — Tribune photo Mukesh Aggarwal