Vadodara/New Delhi, May 3
The Army was today deployed in this town where the situation remained by and large peaceful barring stray violence in the wake of communal clashes and arson following the demolition of a dargah that left six persons dead and more than 60 injured.

The armymen have moved in all curfew-bound localities of the town, official sources here said.

Home Secretary V.K. Duggal told reporters in Delhi that nine to 10 Army columns consisting of about 1,000 soldiers had been deployed in Vadodara to control the situation there.

Though Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had sought only a flag march by the Army as a “precautionary measure”, Mr Duggal said the “directive to the Army was not just for a flag march”.

The Army had also been put on standby in Ahmedabad, Mr Duggal said. Earlier, the Centre had despatched 500 paramilitary personnel to Vadodara.

The violence-hit town remained tense but largely peaceful today, barring a few incidents of stone-pelting and arson.

The police said anti-social elements burnt three factories at the Sardar Patel Estate and looted a shop at Raopura. The police used teargas in the Bavchavad area to disperse two groups of people pelting stones at each other.

The situation in the town aggravated after a man was burnt alive in his car late last night, taking the toll in the violence since Monday to six. Over 40 person have been taken into custody on various charges.

Mr Modi, who toured riot-hit areas, told reporters that the situation was under control and warned of stern action against anyone fomenting unrest.

The Centre asked the Gujarat Government for a detailed report on the communal clashes that has claimed six lives.

Warning against allowing the situation to drift, the Central Government also asked the state to take all necessary steps to ensure that the violence ends and peace prevails.

“I don’t think that these kind of situations can remain uncontrolled. The state government has to do it and we will see that it is done,” Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil told mediapersons here.

The Home Minister said the Centre would offer all assistance to the state government in bringing the situation under control and paramilitary forces had already been despatched there.

The Centre was constantly reviewing the situation and was in touch with the state administration, Mr Patil, who has spoken to the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, said.

Six persons have been killed in clashes in Vadodara where the violence broke out following the demolition of a dargah two days back.