New Delhi India: As many as twenty people died on Saturday in rioting by Hindu and Muslim mobs. Police attacked with gunfire and the army was placed on full alert in the western Gujarat State newspaper reported.
The deaths occurred Saturday during a State wide general strike called by a Hindu organization to protest Muslim attacks on Hindu religious festival Wednesday.
Federal paramilitary troops were ordered to shoot rioters on sight in Ahmedabad where at least eleven people were killed and in Baroda City.
Five people were burnt alive by a mob which attacked a house in an industrial suburb of Ahmedabad India’s fifth largest city with a population of 3.5 million according to the newspaper reports in New Delhi.
More than fifty people were injured by mobs wielding firearms and knives and hurling stones. About 150 people were arrested statewide according to police. Curfew was imposed in parts of Ahmedabad and Baroda.
The Indian Express and Times ‘of India newspapers reported that 20 people were killed on Saturday ‘while the state-run All India Radio reported 16 deaths.
Police did not provide the religious identity of the victims in accordance with the government’s policy of trying to prevent further aggravation of sectarian hatred.
The radio reported sectarian rioting and arson Saturday spread to Baroda and Broach. In Broach city two rioters were shot dead by police it said.
The strike shut banks movie theaters markets schools restaurants and businesses in the state of 36 million people and bus service ‘was suspended in some towns the newscast reported.
The Hindu Vishwa Parished (World Council) which called the strike has demanded a judicial inquiry into the Wednesday attacks claiming they were preplanned.
The long elephant-led procession of chariots bearing idols of Hindu deities was heavily stoned from housetops in two Muslim dominated areas triggering the sectarian Clashes.
The procession called the “Rath Yatra” or chariot tour is staged every year from Ahmedabad’s historic Jagannath temple and frequently sparked violence.
Last year about 300 people were killed in riots triggered by a similar Muslim attack on the chariot procession.
The violence in Gujarat was triggered by traditional antagonism between Hindus and Muslims but included aspects of economic rivalry personal feuds and activity by criminal elements.
The violence erupted Wednesday when Muslim youths stoned a Hindu religious procession of elephants that passed closed 10 Muslim areas.
The Muslim attacks in Ahmedabad on Wednesday triggered widespread clashes among Muslims Hindus and police in India’s fifth largest city. Indian News Agency said that at least 26 people have been killed and 200 injured.
All India Radio said that the general trike sponsored by Hindu organizations was marred by rioting looting arson and stabbings Curfew was imposed in the city south of Ahmedabad the newscast.
In Ahmedabad police fired 50 volleys to halt widespread rioting killing one person the broadcast said.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 18, 1986
