Violence in Gujarat

Published September 18, 2002

AHMEDABAD, Sept 17: Anti-Muslim violence broke out again in Gujarat on Tuesday for the first time in more than a month, leaving one dead and at least 13 injured.

Authorities said the clashes were sparked when a Muslim motorcyclist accidentally hit a Hindu boy on Monday night in the town of Borsad, Anand district, 70kms east of Ahmedabad.

“The police controlled the crowd that night, but the fresh violence broke out (on Tuesday) morning when some shops were burned,” said a police spokesman.

He said police fired rifle and teargas rounds to disperse an angry crowd, killing one demonstrator and injuring several others.

The spokesman said at least four others were injured in stone-pelting by the mob and a stabbing. Six policemen were also hurt.—AFP