MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

Ahmedabad, May 14: During the last two months of communal violence in the city, the number of persons
brought to hospitals with wounds due to private firing has been high revealing the fact that a large number
of illegal firearms are in circulation in the city. In fact, the market for illegal firearms is upbeat ever since
the riots began. In two months of violence, on an average, five persons have been admitted to city
hospitals with bullet wounds caused due to private firing. "Police also finds it difficult to deal with private
firing in the riot torn areas of the city. Even police officials and constables have been hurt in private firing,"
a police official said. Meanwhile, deputy commissioner of police Samiullah Ansari who looks after the
license department said that his job was to give and renew licences and he was unaware of what was
happening in the field. (Asian Age 15.5.02)
15 th May
Traffic jams back in Ahmedabad (7)
AHMEDABAD: Every time there is a hope of peace returning to Ahmedabad, people ask whether this is a
lull before or after a storm. The past 11 weeks have shown that peace in the city is shortlived. This time,
there appears to be a distinct difference: The crisis of confidence and the eerie feeling of trouble lurking
round the corner is no longer there. Touchwood. Call it effective policing or riot fatigue, two days of relative
peace in the city has drawn out scores of people on to the streets. If there is anything still keeping people
indoors, it is the scorching heat. A road from Raipur Chakla to Kalupur, where an ambulance was set
aflame by a mob last week, was on Tuesday bustling with activity. There was the all-familiar and
now-reassuring traffic jam here. (Times of India 15.5.02)
16 th May
Violence in Gujarat has not ended: League MP (7)
New Delhi, May 15: Muslim League MP E. Ahamed has said that contrary to government claims, violence
continues unabated in Gujarat with the number of inmates in the relief camps on the rise. He has
appealed to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vaj-payee and Union home minister Lal Krishna Advani to take
effective measures to protect the Muslims from brutal and wanton attacks by the Sangh Parivar as well as
the partisan administration. Mr Ahamed said that it is regrettable that the relief package announced by the
Prime Minister is yet to be implemented. He charged that the Bajrang Dal, VHP, RSS and other such "ultra
. fascist" outfits of the BJP have taken the police for granted and are using them for their whims. (Asian
Age 16.5.02)
16th May
Gujarat seeks time from NHRC to submit report (7)
Delhi, May 15: The Gujarat Government .has sought more time the National Human Rights mission to file
a comprehensive report on the communal riots in the state as the time given by the mission for filing of the
same ended on Wednesday. The commission had given two weeks time to both the Centre and the
Gujarat government to file their responses to its preliminary comments and recommendations on May 1.
The Gujarat government is yet to. submit its report, The commission had sought response and
comments from the Gujarat and central governments the report of its team headed by Justice J.S. Verma
(retired) that had visited Gujarat in March,. (Asian Age 16.5.002)
16 th May
Touching reunion at Naroda (7)
Ahmedabad: Bystanders fell silent when the police on Wednesday reached the site of the February 28
massacre at Naroda-Patia, where 86 persons were hacked and burnt to death 11 weeks ago. The victims,
escorted by the district collector and crime branch officials, revisited their burnt homes. About 150 riot
victims visited Naroda-Patia for physical verification on the basis of which the government would grant
compensation. For some, it was a tearful and touching reunion with their Hindu neighbours. Even as a
Hindu woman wiped tears flowing down the cheeks of one of her estranged Muslim neighbours, the pleas
to return home, however, met with uncontrollable sobs. Tears also flowed down the wrinkled cheeks of
50-year-old Mariam Bibi as she reached the spot where the memories of those devilish acts of February
28 still hung thick. Fighting back tears, she and her husband Hassan Abukar walked down the familiar
lanes where her disabled son was done to death. (Times of India 16.5.002)