M A I N   N E W S

3 killed in Gujarat violence
Mobs set 200 shops, houses ablaze

A school trustee examines the burnt remains of a school classroom in the Raikhad area in Ahmedabad on Friday. An Army officer talks to a group of people in the Juhapura area in Ahmedabad on Friday. — PTI photos

Ahmedabad, April 26
At least three persons were killed and 30 injured as rampaging mobs set on fire 200 houses and shops in a major flare-up of communal violence in Ahmedabad and Mansa town of Gandhinagar district, taking the death toll to 44 in Gujarat since past Sunday.

One person was killed and four injured when the police fired about 90 rounds and burst over 400 teargas shells to contain violence in Vejalpur-Haveli police station areas, police sources said.

Mobs set ablaze 200 shops and houses in the locality, they said, adding that indefinite curfew was imposed at 8.45 am.

A school was set on fire and a religious place was stoned in Haveli police station area, the sources said, adding that some huts were also set afire.

At least five persons were stabbed and injured in Guptanagar area falling under Vejalpur police station while another person received injuries in a crude bomb blast, the sources said.

Two policemen were injured when mob hurled crude bombs at them in Raikhad locality of Haveli police station area.

One person was stabbed to death and another injured in stabbing incidents in Mansa town.

One person, who was injured in police firing on Sunday in Kalupur walled city area, succumbed to injuries in hospital today.

Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today alleged that the Congress was involved in the Godhra massacre and subsequent violence for gaining political mileage.

Addressing public meetings at Tharad, Palanpur, Bhiloda and Shera towns during his one-day tour of north and central Gujarat, Mr Modi said Congress leaders were trying to foment communal hatred by making inflammatory statements and rubbing salt on the wounds of the people, an official release issued here today stated.

Lashing out at the ongoing Congress campaign of “Modi Hatao” at the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad and other places in the country, the Chief Minister said it was only the right of the people of Gujarat to decide who should be the Chief Minister.

“The Gujaratis do not not need any certification for it from an Italian lady,” he said, taking a dig at Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

He also alleged that the forthcoming visit of Mrs Gandhi was aimed at “scratching the wounds of the people of Gujarat.” PTI, UNI

Carnage survivors’ tales of woe
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 26
Many a heads hung in shame as about 20 survivors of the Gujarat carnage recounted their nightmarish experiences at a hearing organised at Constitution Club here today by the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT) and Communalism Combat, a magazine published from Mumbai.

The Trust has invited all non-BJP parties to lend their ears to the eyewitness accounts of 20 other survivors on Saturday. Secretary, SAHMAT told TNS that Congress President Sonia Gandhi, CPM General Secretary, Harkishen Singh Surjeet, former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh, CPI leader, Atul Anjan and Samajwadi Party MP, Raj Babbar are expected to attend the hearing scheduled between 10 am and 1 pm. The survivors who are in Delhi include nine women and four children.

The survivors broke down while recounting the barbaric manner in which their family members were burnt to death.

Raja Bundubhaia, a 11-year-old boy from the Shah Alam relief camp said he saw his mother and sister being stabbed and burnt. He said the rioters had decided to behead him but an elderly person in the group dissuaded them and asked him to run for his life. The boy took shelter in a small shed and later crawled to the SRP quarters where he found his aunt.

Fatima Biwi from Naroda Patiya said when innocent children asked for water, they were given diesel and petrol by the rioters. Fatima lost 19 members of her family. She said that even after taking Rs 20,000 from her sister, the rioters killed her mother and sister. They stripped women and burnt them to death. Naroda Patiya, about 15 km from Ahmedabad, has been home to about 1000 daily wage earning members of the minority community.

Fazl Gandhi, a resident of Paldi alleged he saw the Gujarat Revenue Minister, Ms Haren Pandya inciting mob on February 28. The police accompanied the crowd and did not step out of the Jeep. He said although his house in Tarana Apartments was looted thrice, the police refused to register the FIR which named Pandya. He later received threats that he would be killed for mentioning Pandya’s name.

Fareeda Bibi from Mehrampur said the rioters beat them up mercilessly and used foul language. "Our Maulana was beaten up and told that he would be spared only if he uttered Sri Ram."

Ibrahim Ismail who has served the Army for 17 years said his father, uncle, 22-year-old brother and cousin sister were killed by the rioters. A security supervisor with the ONGC in Kalor, Ibrahim said his uncle was in a coma in Civil Hospital. ``We have no faith in the police. I cannot describe the fire raging within. Nobody is concerned about the minorities in Gujarat. Our security needs should be taken care of in our rehabilitation. Were it left to me, I would ensure that Modi’s family meets the same fate.’’

Altaf Kadri recalled how about 30 petrol bombs were thrown at their houses on the night of February 28. He alleged that the rioters were VHP people of the area.