The Times of India

Shrines targets of Veraval mobs
Himanshu Kaushik
[ Wednesday, July 28, 2004 01:20:39 amTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

VERAVAL, Gujarat: Fresh incidents of stone throwing and a retaliatory attempt at attacking a place of worship on Tuesday morning added to the tension in riot-scarred Veraval, even as smoke billowed from torched vehicles and streets remained littered with bricks a day after communal clashes left two dead.

The clash, which began around 1.30 pm on Monday, continued till early on Tuesday, as mobs moved around in the city despite curfew and even torched three places of worship.

The mobs indulged in arson and looting, removing 10 motorcycles from a showroom and setting them ablaze. Around 60 incidents of arson were reported till Tuesday.

People who ventured out of their homes when curfew was relaxed for two hours on Tuesday - between 1 pm and 3 pm in one part of the city and from 3 pm to 5 pm in another - blamed the police for not taking adequate steps. Even on Tuesday, the police had a tough time controlling the crowds as people poured out onto the streets though the curfew was lifted only for women and children.

"The police looked outnumbered when the crowds went on rampage. The curfew relaxation could have proved dangerous," said a resident of Jalaramnagar Society, which was among the worst-affected.

About 60 families from his housing society have fled, seeking shelter elsewhere.

"We have been living in fear. This town has seen communal flare-ups in the past and it will take time for life to get back on track," said Narendra Joshi, president of Bajrang Society, which witnessed a fresh incident of stone pelting early on Tuesday.

"After living in fear through the night, we could not buy milk and vegetables on Tuesday as everyone rushed to the market to get supplies," said Abbas Baig, a resident of Arab Chowk.

Junagadh superintendent of police B D Vaghela said trouble erupted after a man allegedly teased a girl from another community.

"The police force proved to be inadequate when faced with the rampaging mobs. We have arrested about 100 people so far," Vaghela said. Three-anda-half companies of the SRP and additional police from the district were rushed here only late on Monday.

Junagadh collector Rohit Pathak, who held meetings with leaders of the two communities on Tuesday, said the curfew would continue till 7 am on Wednesday.

Fear also seemed to have spread beyond Veraval, hitting pilgrim traffic in neighbouring Somnath. While the 'adhik mas' period draws about 10,000 pilgrims a day to the temple town, only about 200 people were seen near the temple on Tuesday.