NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Shiv Kumar in Bombay
Fresh curfew was enforced on Wednesday after renewed violence around Malegaon, Maharashtra, where police firing and Hindu-Muslim clashes have killed 13 people since last Friday.
Despite the presence of army and paramilitary troops, arsonists torched several houses and vehicles in villages surrounding the textile town of Malegaon, about 150 km north of Bombay. No casualties were, however, reported. The town itself remained peaceful though.
Curfew was relaxed for a short while on Tuesday and Wednesday to enable local people to buy essential supplies. The town was suffering from a severe shortage of food and milk, police said. Water supply had been badly hit too, as troublemakers blew up the main water pipeline in the town.
Seventy-five percent of the inhabitants of Malegaon are Muslims and most of the dead and injured in the violence belonged to the dominant community.
The violence also resulted in hectic political activity. The two main political leaders in Malegaon -- local legislator Sheikh Rashid of the Congress and Nihal Ahmed of the Janata Dal (Secular) -- accused each other of instigating the violence. Incidentally, both parties are part of the ruling Democratic Front coalition in Maharashtra.
In interviews with journalists visiting the troubled town, Rashid and Ahmed levelled charges against each other. Political analysts said elections to Malegaon's civic body are due shortly and both leaders have been jockeying for position to control it.
The Maharashtra government has decided to order an inquiry into the incident. Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who is also in charge of the state home department, has refused to comment on the involvement of local politicians in the riots.
Incidents of arson and violence were reported from a number of villages surrounding Malegaon. Several places of worship have been damaged in the violence. The police are, however, not releasing details of the dead and injured or about the places of worship damaged to prevent the spread of violence.
Indo-Asian News Service
ALSO SEE Malevolence in Malegaon - A slide show Curfew continues in Malegaon, toll increases to 12 Malegaon incident-free, curfew continues Tense Malegaon faces acute shortage of water, food Malegaon peaceful, curfew relaxed in some areas Decision on probe into Malegaon incident after collector's report Malegaon peaceful, curfew relaxed for three hours
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
