M A I N   N E W S

Peace prevails as Gill takes charge in Gujarat

Ahmedabad, May 4
Day curfew was relaxed in most parts of Gujarat as the state returned to near normalcy and no untoward incident was reported, the police said today.

Curfew, enforced in 10 police station areas here, six police station areas of Baroda city and other places in the state following violent incidents, was relaxed during the day.

Reports from other districts said peace prevailed in those areas too with life returning to normal, as former Punjab police chief K. P. S. took charge as the Security Adviser to Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Communal violence has claimed more than 900 lives in Gujarat since the February 27 carnage in Godhra.

Known as the supercop, Mr Gill’s appointment was made on the recommendation of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for bringing about a professional approach in the police force, an official statement issued here today stated.

Mr Gill report directly to the Centre keeping in touch with state Governor, Mr S.S. Bhandari, in maintaining law and order in the state.

The state government, meanwhile, effected major changes posting senior police officers as in charge in most sensitive police station areas of the state.

Mr Gill appointment comes three days after the Lok Sabha rejected a censure motion on Gujarat which sought more effective intervention by the Centre through Article 355 of the Constitution to restore confidence of minorities in the government.

Commenting on the decision Mr Modi said it was aimed at bringing more professionalism in the police force of the hypersensitive state.

In the appointment of Mr Gill, the Gujarat government would get the benefit of his experience in Punjab where he effectively curbed terrorism, the sources said.

Gill met state DGP K. Chakravarty and discussed the prevailing law and order situation in view of the communal violence in the state after February 28 last. PTI, UNI