The issue of Dariapur violence also figured at the informal Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, where certain ministers expressed concern at the communal disturbances and felt that the Home Department must curb the violence with an iron hand, especially since Lok Sabha elections are round the corner in the State.

Briefing mediapersons after the Cabinet meeting, Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya said his department would inquire into how an insignificant incident in Dariapur triggered the riot and how it spread to nearby areas of the city. An incident of firing by some individual during the disturbances would also be probed, he said.

The minister evaded a direct reply when a reporter sought to know if any pro-Pakistan elements were involved in the communal disturbances. "Our prime concern at the moment is to restore peace and tranquillity in the affected areas of Ahmedabad," he added.

Pandya said a total of 24 SRP companies and four Rapid Action Force (RAF) companies were deployed in the troubled areas to assist the city police, adding that as many as 423 teargas shells were burst and 60 rounds fired by the police to contain the communal frenzy in the city on Tuesday.