Vadodara back on edge, fresh violence erupts at midnight

VADODARA, MAY 2: The city was back on the edge late tonight after a man was burnt alive in his car in the Ajwa Road area in the city’s eastern outskirts in latest violence in the wake of the dargah demolition on Monday. Reports of communal clashes were coming in from at least three neighbourhoods past midnight.

Mobs had gathered on Ajwa Road where there are residential colonies of both Hindu and Muslim communities.

According to the police, a mob stopped a van (GJ-6-AA-8258) and burnt its sole occupant later identified as Mohammedrafiq Abdulgani Vora, 35, of the nearby Kismet Colony.

DCP Siddharth Khatri said the incident happened before the police or fire-brigade could reach the spot. He said the mob had been dispersed and Rapid Action Force deployed in the area. Police also said people were being evacuated to safety from the Ajabdi Mills area.

Earlier today, sporadic clashes and stone-pelting were reported in some areas and one person was killed in police firing, taking to five the toll in the violence.

Police fired at a rioting mob at around 2 am in Motivohrawaad area, killing one person while two others were injured in clashes.

Wadi resident Mohammad Ashfaq Arab (23), admitted to the SSG Hospital after being hit on the head by an object, also died. As his funeral procession was taken out through the Madar Market area, clashes broke out.

“The police took immediate action and a company of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) was sent to stop the violence. They fired one round of tear gas shells at the rioting mob,” said DCP (South) Kesarisinh Bhati.

As the police organised peace meetings and newly-appointed DGP P C Pande made a quiet visit to the city, violence began this afternoon near Adania Pul during the funeral procession of two Fatehpura residents, Imran Hussain Dhobi (25) and Mohammad Hayat Mansuri (22), who died yesterday. Both communities began pelting stones at each other.

Acid bulbs were thrown at an SRP tent near Panigate police station, seriously injuring five jawans. The SRP jawans fired nine rounds and lobbed tear-gas shells.

In the combing operations that followed, police arrested 48 people, including 22 in connection with the two stabbings yesterday.

Vadodara police commissioner Deepak Swaroop said police fired 14 rounds and lobbed 56 tear gas shells to control the violence.

DGP Pande said he had advised Swaroop to continue dialogue with the two communities. “Our focus is that the anti-encroachment drive should be allowed to continue without creating major law and order upsets.”

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