Iran, Germany and the United States are among the countries that have conveyed their concern to New Delhi at the spiral of violence in Gujarat.
Officials said the world was appreciative of the handling of the upsurge by the Indian government, but singled out Pakistan’s show of concern for Gujarat with a sharp rebuke.
“Pakistan is seeking to derive propagandist advantages from the events,” a senior foreign ministry official said, commenting on remarks by President Pervez Musharraf and others on the tragedy. “Certainly it would amount to interference in India’s internal affairs, particularly as it comes from Pakistan.”
Asked if the other countries that had expressed concern over the events in Gujarat were also guilty of interfering in India’s internal affairs, the official said: “The hostility and animosity that seems to define Pakistan’s statements puts them in a different bracket.”
Even as the death toll in the five-day communal frenzy has crossed 500, reports of sporadic incidents of violence are continuing to come in from parts of the state.
Ahmedabad has accounted for the highest toll of 220, including 77 arsonists who were killed in police firing. The state’s commercial hub is, however, limping back to normalcy though curfew is continuing in many parts of the state.
Curfew was imposed in Deodhar and Bhabhor towns of Sabarkantha district while in Jadar town some houses and shops were set on fire, following which the police opened fire yesterday.
Star News said there was no major incident reported from anywhere but looting and robbery seem to have replaced the killing spree. Reports of looting of abandoned houses and business establishments have come from Godhra, Bhavnagar and some interior parts in north and central Gujarat.
Though the violence-ravaged parts of the state remain tense, other areas of south Gujarat and Saurashtra were peaceful, except for Rajkot which was put under curfew after violent incidents recurred.
In the capital, the Delhi Union of Journalists organized a peace march to protest government interference with the media’s coverage of Gujarat. Muslim leaders took out a separate procession in New Delhi.
“The Gujarat government, under Chief Minister Narendra Modi, is terrorising people. He should be arrested under POTO (anti-terror law) and president’s rule should be imposed,” the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid told reporters.
In Ahmedabad, police burst tear gas shells to disperse mobs in Shahpur and Viratnagar areas of Ghatlodia on Sunday night. A scrap market and a shop were also burnt by unidentified persons in Mirzapur and Karanj.
The bodies of those killed in violence are lying unclaimed at the civil hospital and the VS hospital as relatives are staying away fearing an attack.
The villages of central and north Gujarat districts have reportedly become the target of mobs.
In other parts of the state, as many as 579 persons received injuries, including 110 persons in stabbing incidents. Police have fired 1,708 rounds and burst 5,940 tear gas shells to contain violence.
In Surat, curfew is on in many parts of the city and the army and paramilitary forces are carrying out flag marches.
Home Minister L.K. Advani has rejected the demand for handing over the state’s commercial capital to the army. Advani, who toured riot-hit areas of Ahmedabad and Godhra and the spot where Sabarmati Express was set on fire, told reporters that violence was subsiding.
The authorities claim to have made a breakthrough in the Godhra mayhem with the arrest of Mohammad Kolota, 45, president of Godhra municipality and chief of Congress minority cell, who was picked up by personnel of the anti-dacoity squad of the city police from the residence of one Iqbal in Polan Bazaar area during a combing operation.
Police have already arrested two municipal councilors and are looking for another two — Bilal Haji and Farookh Bhana — in connection with the carnage.
Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has rejected the Centre’s appeal to postpone its Ayodhya agitation, refusing to budge from the March 15 deadline to begin construction of a temple at the site of the razed mosque. It demanded that the government should reduce the security arrangements at the disputed site.